Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 25, 2012 News
– 3,999 incidents recorded last year,
By Rabindra Rooplall
For last year there were 3,999 incidences of child abuse cases, a noted increase compared to previous years, the Social Services Statistical Bulletin for 2011 has shown.
In comparison, 2010 recorded 3,377 incidences of child abuse cases while in 2009 there were 868 cases.
Figures show that females are more likely to be abused than males. The most common forms of abuse were neglect (47%), physical abuse (21%), and sexual abuse (18%).
Last year, Region Four recorded the highest percentage of child abuse cases (56%). Other regions where a high number of reports were made were Region Six (14%), Region Three (14%) and Region Ten (8%).
It was further noted that the most prevalent perpetrators of child abuse were mothers (42%), fathers (25%) and step-parents (6%). Data indicated that child abuse is perpetrated by the very people who are believed to protect children. Parents constitute the greater proportion of aggressors. They account for 73% of the cases.
The Social Services Statistics has shown that of the 3,358 children who were abused, 29 per cent attend Primary school, 26 per cent attend Secondary school, and 19 per cent do not attend school. This vividly shows that children are mostly abused while they are at the primary level of education.
Experts say child abuse continues to be an intolerable ill in society. When cases of child abuse were taken to the courts, many times the child was intimidated by the atmosphere of the court, and for that reason would not speak.
Of the 3,999 incidents of child abuse, 60 per cent were counseled, 16 per cent were reported to the police, whilst three per cent of the cases went to court.
Of 489 children, 50 per cent were placed with Family/Relatives Kinship, 33 per cent were placed in residential care facility, and 11 per cent were placed in foster care.
Officials say that since children cannot protect themselves alone, adults must learn to recognise and inquire about behaviors that make children vulnerable or suggest that abuse has occurred.
Adults must not wait for children to speak about abuse. This position leaves them to face the confusion and trauma of victimisation on their own.
Keen attention must be paid to the early signs of abuse. Parents must learn to listen and take seriously the verbal and non-verbal cues of children suffering from the sexual advances of adults.
Director of the Child Protection Agency, Ann Greene, had noted that this is the eighth year her agency is acknowledging that Child Protection Week is being observed worldwide.
This, she said, is being done so that people can be reminded that “No child deserves to be abused since child abuse robs children of the persons they would have become”.
According to the statistical bulletin, this increase in cases is due to the awareness campaigns of the Rights of the Children and the relevant safety nets in place.
Nevertheless, experts say cases of child abuse in the education system are not reported to the agency since many schools try to contain the issue(s) and deal with the situation at their level.
It was further noted that the law says if any teacher or professional knows that a child is being abused, it is their duty to report it. Failing to do so could attract legal sanction. The head teacher is supposed to report cases; a lot needs to be done by the heads, and even other teachers.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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