Georgetown: During Child Protection Week 2013, there will be activities throughout the administrative Regions to remind individuals, community members, and local groups including religious communities of the civil and moral responsibility to be part of the solution for children in need of protection. September 22-28 is designated as Child Protection Week, and is being observed under the theme “Joining Hands for Effective Child Protection Services”.
Child Protection Officers in their outreach sessions will be providing information on what everyone can do to help keep children safe as it is every child’s right to be loved, accepted, supported, and nurtured.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, during his post-Cabinet media briefing outlined that there are several outreach activities that are planned to observe this week including a road march and rally on “Breaking the silence on childhood sexual abuse.” This activity was staged this afternoon.
Dr. Luncheon also highlighted that the Child Protection Agency has a critical role to play as the “CPA oversees the implementation of a modern legislative environment guaranteeing child protection and meeting the state’s obligations with regards to children”.
He also added that there are constitutional rights to children, and that the state’s response on corporal punishment is currently before the highest seats of decision making in the land.
He said the family court, foster care and the new children’s home at Mahaica, all bear testimony to the administration’s commitment to expanding child welfare.
Dr. Luncheon highlighted that despite the facilities provided and work that’s being done, there are areas that exist where more must be done. These include the placement of orphans with families, school welfare, particularly focusing on violence and gangs, and sexual abuse.
The activities that will be unveiled during child protection week 2013 is a testimony that more can and will be done, but there must recognition of the efforts that have been made, he said.
Child Protection Week was first commemorated by the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security in 2004.
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