Child rights group calls for swift judicial appointments

Jul 29, 2023 News

…to address backlog of child sexual abuse cases

Kaieteur News – Recognizing the urgency at which sexual abuse cases must be dealt with, a group of child rights organizations have made a collective call for the newly constituted Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to act swiftly in appointing judges and magistrates to deal with the backlog of child sexual abuse cases before the courts.

Child Rights Alliance (CRA) which consists of representatives from the Orchid Foundation, the United Bricklayers, Youth with Purpose and ChildLinK Guyana in a statement noted that the young survivors of sex crimes have become frustrated with the slothful progression of their cases before the Courts.

The group noted that “The current backlog of cases has resulted in many accused offenders currently freely traversing the streets and triggering trauma in many victims who have to pass their perpetrators in the streets.”

As such, the CRA called on the JSC to aggressively fulfill its functions to ensure that the requisite complement of magistrates and judges are in place to significantly increase the efficiency of the trial process and relieve the strain on the current complement of judges and magistrates.

“…More citizens need to recognize the connection between the roles of these Commissions on the wellbeing of all citizens, particularly, the most vulnerable and add their voices to the need for the effective functioning of the Commissions,” the CRA said in the statement.

ChildLink staff presents ‘One Thousand Boys’ project, an anti-child sex abuse campaign.

The group noted that while the appointment of the members of the JSC and the Commission’s consequent reconstitution is a commendable step in the right direction, swift and transparent justice is essential to realizing a safe society where children, women, and other vulnerable segments of our society can be free from harm and violence and develop their potential in safety.

“We believe that the JSC must and will fulfill its functions to ensure that the requisite complement of magistrates and judges are in place to significantly increase the efficiency of the trial process and relieve the strain on the current complement of judges and magistrates. Specifically, we hope to see increased efficiency in the prosecution of sex offenders in the Sexual Offences Court,” the alliance added.

They noted too that Commissions such as the JSC are a safeguard that holds offenders accountable and gives victims some measure of confidence and assurance in the judicial process to report abuse. In recognizing this, the group said that all citizens should let their voices be heard in support of the swift reconstitution of the JSC when its tenure is up.

According to the CRA, the reconstitution of the JSC is very timely, as it comes at a time when we there are increased reports of child sexual abuse cases to the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA).

“From 2019 to 2021, there were more than 3,000 reports of child sexual abuse to the CPA and more than 470 of those reports were made by boys. It is evident that children, including boys, are reporting with more frequency. Consequently, systems must be in place to ensure that reports are translated into swift and decisive actions by the entire children protection system – of which the judiciary is a key stakeholder – that will hopefully send a clear message to perpetrators that our children are not to be harmed and that offenders will be held accountable,” the group stressed as it challenged the JSC to ensure that its mandate is implemented impartially and in a timely manner.

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appointments, Judicial Service Commission (JSC) t, Orchid Foundation, the United Bricklayers, Youth with Purpose and ChildLinK

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