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Child Abuse – A Hidden Crime
– Linden rally calls for silence to be broken
Director of Child Protection Services, Ann Greene, at a Rally aimed at eradicating child sexual abuse, called it “a hidden crime”, with 52 cases in Region Ten alone. The rally was held at Poker Street, Wismar, Linden.
A section of those in attendance at the rally.
“Linden I am here in your Town, and I am here for us to talk about child abuse! -Serious talk- All child abuse is bad for children, but this rally here today is a call for breaking the silence of child sexual abuse!”
Expanding on child sexual abuse, Ms Greene noted that it ranged from inappropriate touching to seduction and rape.
“It is a hidden crime- a painful experience behind closed doors!”
Greene noted that all forms of child abuse stood at 2,238 while sexual abuse was 267.
Noting that those were probably not even the true figures, because of the pervasive silence surrounding the issue, she said that it was because of the silence of the victims, that abusers are being protected.
Many times victims were so young they could not articulate their experiences, because they did not understand what was happening to them, she said. Some could not even speak, she added.
Most troubling, Greene noted, was that a lot of the times the perpetrators were right in the homes.
The event was coordinated by the Ministry of Social Protection in collaboration with the Child Care and Protection Agency in observance of Child Protection Week.
Held under the theme “Breaking the silence on child Sexual Abuse,” the event attracted scores of school children, teachers, parents, health workers, the police and other major stake holders.
Minister of Social protection, Volda Lawrence, who delivered the feature address, said, “We are here in your Region to deal with children’s safety and security because it is our priority. But more than that; we are here to break the silence on child abuse.
“We are going to eradicate Child abuse from your neighbourhood, but we must work together.
We have to leave here committed to do something we have to leave here telling ourselves that we are going to be an advocate.
“We are going to go out there in our groups, in our circles and in our homes and we are going to start speaking about child sexual abuse.”
She however noted that many people are not bold enough, strong enough or concerned enough to break the silence.
Lawrence alluded to the song “Daddy don’t touch me there”. She said that a little boy or little girl can only repeat those words if they know that they have a strong adult standing with them.
The Minister also drew attention to many of the reasons why mothers are silent in the face of the abuse of their children. Many cited economic and financial constraints and of having being abused themselves.
“Let us help our children to fly without wings!”
Other speakers at the rally included Regional Vice Chairman Adolf , Deputy Mayor Wannika Arrindell and heads of various religious organizations.
Dennis Mohamed of the Muslim organization was one of the most vocal, stressing that until women are no longer abused, children will be abused.
Mohamed said that abuse of the child is directly related to the abuse of women.
“If we don’t fix the abuse of our women, we can never fix the abuse of our children.”
Pastor Alfred Julien said that the Christian community stood firmly in solidarity with all efforts to help eradicate Child Sexual abuse.
The event saw many youths entertaining the gathering in poetry song and dance.
The poems, which spoke candidly of the horrors of being abused, drew thunderous applause from the crowd. (Enid Joaquin)
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