| In light of the fact that early sexual activity is not in keeping with the rights and development process of children, the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) has in place strategic measures to help guard against such occurrences. This will therefore require that entire communities are re-educated so as to ensure that all are involved in the business of child protection.Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency, Ann GreeneThis opinion was expressed by Director of the Child Protection Agency, Ms Ann Greene, during an interview with this publication.However, achieving the desired results cannot be realised on merely the strength of the Child Protection Agency, which falls under the purview of the Human Services Ministry. Moreover, Greene told this publication that efforts have been made to collaborate with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the likes of ChildLink.ChildLink has been in the forefront of the Tell Campaign, which according to Greene, helps to sensitise young children about their rights with a view of ensuring that they can deal with situations, mostly of a sexual nature, that they may encounter. And there have been many successes realised since the launch of the tactical campaign, Greene noted.Although the Tell Campaign already has a presence in a number of Regions, the Child Protection Director said that moves are being made to ensure that there is an even greater impact in far-flung regions.“We are looking to carry it more there, because the problem is more there. So the Tell Campaign is the way we plan on doing this…We have to re-educate entire communities; everybody has to be a part,” Greene emphasised.The Director’s remarks were forthcoming even as she commented on the underage pregnancies of two young girls in the Region One area. Both cases were uncovered during the latter part of last year and the girls were brought to the city in the company of Child Protection officers who, together with the Police Force, are investigating the cases. The pregnant girls were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for medical care, and one has since given birth.As part of its efforts to dissuade underage pregnancies, the Child Protection Agency has been working to raise awareness in the communities that not only are such practices morally unacceptable, but they are in fact against the law.But even with collaboration, Greene noted that the target result, to considerably reduce the instances of child abuse, will not happen overnight, since it will be characterised by a process that will take much time and effort. However, it is expected that the intended goal will be fast-tracked with strategic moves to roll out the Tell Campaign in all schools across the country by this year end.“We have already taken it to Region One,Cheap Jerseys From China, and with our re-education efforts through the Tell Campaign, at the level of the schools, girls, in particular, will be able to understand their rights,” Greene informed.Added to this, she said that the introduction of One Stop Centres will also help to cater to the re-education process. The One Stop Centres, Greene explained, are designed to deal with the sexual abuse of children where cases will be heard by a multi-disciplinary team. “We all will be collectively dealing with the issue of sexual abuse…We will do interviews where the child will only have to tell it (what occurred) one time, and then we will provide follow-up therapeutic work for the victim and the family,” Greene disclosed.Such centres, she said, will be involved in preventative work to raise awareness in communities on how to prevent child abuse.“It has to be a collaboration with other agencies…it is not just about the Child Protection Agency…Child protection is everybody’s business; people need to be more aware; every adult. The whole question is that adults should protect children, so it is an adult responsibility,” insisted Greene.In working towards the protection of the rights of children in communities countrywide, the Child Care Agency has been collaborating with various factions of the Human Services Ministry, including the Family Commission, which is tasked with reaching out to families. And strategic collaboration has been forged with other sectors such as Education, Health and Home Affairs.“This is the only way that we will be able to deal with it…and it is not an easy or an overnight task, it is a thorough process, and all must be involved,” Greene stated. |
