Ministers abandoning roles on Sexual Offences Task Force- says Child rights activist says

Aug 11, 2019 News

The Sexual Offences Task Force is an integral part of the Sexual Offences Act of 2010. It, however, is not functioning since it comprises of Ministers who are abandoning their roles.

Nicole Cole

This was an observation by Child Rights Activist, Nicole Cole, when she addressed a public forum on “Interrogating Sexual Violence” hosted by the University of Guyana (UG).
Cole asked, “Why isn’t the Sexual Offences Task Force functioning? Who is responsible? When will it start functioning?’’
According to her, the Sexual Offences Act turns 20 next year, and the Sexual Offences Task Force plays an important role in ensuring the provisions of the legislation are upheld.
Cole, herself, sits on the Sexual Offences Task Force.
She expressed, “I sit on the Sexual Offences Task Force but it remains something that appears to be in still birth. It functions sometimes you have one meeting and then nothing else happens because you have ministers who have critical roles on that task force and they are abdicating their duties.
“We cannot let this continue; we have to do more to protect Guyana’s children and society.”
The Sexual Offences Act speaks to the prevention of sexual crimes and such a task force is needed to address awareness and monitoring the implementation of the law. The Act provides for the President to appoint members of the Task Force which shall consist Ministers of Social Security, Education, Health, Legal Affairs, Social Protection, Indigenous People’s Affairs, among others.
It shall also include senior public officers with responsibility for human and social services, health, law enforcement and officials from non-governmental organizations.

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