There are 190 children in state protective care in St. Vincent and the Grenadines because of abuse and neglect.
Minister of National Mobilisation, Frederick Stephenson told the media on Wednesday that data collected by the Child Development Division show that, in 2019, the department received approximately 300 reports of children being abused or neglected.
“Approximately 34% of the reports were classified as victims of child neglect, 30% as victims of physical abuse, 23% as victims of sexual abuse and 13% as victims of psychological abuse,” the minister said.
The Minister said that the Child Development Division has conducted 20 awareness programmes in 10 communities and or schools with parents, teachers, children, health care practitioners, shelter managers, coaches, counsellors and religious institutions to heighten awareness of child abuse and neglect.
The participants were sensitised in the areas of child abuse protocol and reporting guidelines, the Children (Care and Adoption) Act 2010, child abuse in emergencies, child abuse in sports, and the rights of the child.
The division, in collaboration with UNICEF, conducted a series of training workshops on the child abuse protocols and reporting guidelines and the Children (Care and Adoption) Act 2010 to provide police officers, health care practitioners and educators with the knowledge and skills to recognise, prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect, thereby enhancing their capacity in the execution of your duties, he said.
Stephenson said that 180 Law Enforcement Officers who work directly with children attended a one-day training workshop and 142 health care professionals also received training this year.
Another training workshop will take place in October for 150 educators, including principals, counsellors and senior officials
“The division recognises that parents play a vital role in their child’s development. Parents are not only caretakers, but they are instrumental in the development of their child’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical well-being. As a result, the division has conducted parenting programmes in five (communities and schools. A total of 130 parents have benefitted from this initiative,” he said.
Long time coming. Too many children over the years have suffered at the hands of the people who gave birth to or contributed sperm to create them. Purely from a biological point of view, inseminate, drop the newborn. They should have walked away. Instead they pretend to be parents, but are in reality animals who abuse their offspring. Some animals treat their offspring better than I have seen some children treated.
Wat the minister should be speaking about is employment.90 percent of these problem are poverty and unemployment.but still they continue to play politics in stead of equal opportunity.and Wat it does it destroy family.and when family is destroy society is.lt Leve children to fen for them sleaf.girls vulnerable to all from of sexually mental verbal abuse.And boys gangsters drugs dealers and other criminal activity.lf they had parents to fen for them.90 percent of them would not be in that position that they are in.So Mr minster tell your Government Equal opportunity and the creation of jobs.That will save family and children.Add the word of GOD to that and we will have a little Haven down here.