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Younger children being targeted for sexual abuse
“It is of concern because the victims are so young; they really can’t accuse their abuser… They have no voice… We have to empower our children at a very early age” –Ann Greene
By Tiffanne Ramphal
As a result of the realization that recently, much younger children are targets of sexual abuse, Director of Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) Ann Greene is urging parents to step up the supervision of their children.
Greene, during a recent interview with Kaieteur News, said that while the agency is now readily able to deal with the increase of abuse cases being reported, the type of abuse that is being encountered has changed drastically.
She said that it has become evident from the complaints received, that victims of child abuse are much younger, compared to previous statistics. The CCPA head made reference to the case of two-year-old Kimanie Watson of South Haslington, East Coast Demerara who was allegedly sodomized by her 15-year-old uncle, resulting in her death. 
On the morning of October 21 last, the two-year-old, along with her six-month-old sibling was reportedly left in the care of their grandmother after their mother, who works as a security guard, left for work. The grandmother subsequently went out “to collect some money from Western Union”, taking the six-month-old baby but leaving the two-year-old in the care of her 15-year-old son.
Instances such as these and their outcomes, Greene said, is certainly a cause for concern since the younger the child, the less capable they are of protecting themselves.
“It is of concern because the victims are so young; they really can’t accuse their abuser… They cannot point their finger. These are children literally without a voice. They have no voice to say that somebody has done something,” Greene underscored.
Against this backdrop she pointed out that the truth of the matter may often times escape notice. And, even if or when the truth emerges, what is known may not be enough to incriminate the abuser.
“What we may know may just be the tip of the iceberg. There may be a lot of children who are being abused and nobody is aware of them because the victims are so young,” Greene noted.
Speaking to the need to eliminate these instances of abuse, the CCPA Head said that the agency is appealing to parents to be much more vigilant in caring for their children. The agency, she said, is constantly engaged in programmes and awareness sessions to “let parents understand how serious it is to parent, monitor and supervise their children.”
“Be more careful; supervise your children a little more; know who you are leaving your children in care of; know who they are playing with in the next yard,” she advised.
She added that the agency acknowledges that parenting comes with great financial responsibility and as such parents would need to work to provide household and educational necessities. However, according to Greene, the responsibility of a secular job should not encroach upon their duty of providing proper care to children.
“Yes parents have to work, but they must leave their children in the hands of someone who is responsible and capable of properly supervising and caring for their children. Parents need to know who they are leaving their children in care of.”
“Do not put them in these vulnerable situations. If parents take a little more time caring for their children, they can avoid all these tragedies.”
Greene said that in addition to improving parenting skills and upping levels of supervision and monitoring, parents need to teach young children to protect themselves.
“We have to empower children at a very early age. Let them know of their private parts as soon as they are able to understand. Let them know that no one is supposed to touch them there; if somebody does they should tell someone, particularly the mother. It is empowering children to say ‘No!’ to protect themselves.”
Greene said that both girls and boys should be part of these engagements as male children are not exempted from sexual abuse.
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