Listen to children when they complain about abuse, urges Minister Persaud

In light of numerous cases of child abuse being reported in Guyana, Minister of Human Services and Social Protection, Vindhya Persaud, is advising parents and guardians to be vigilant and aware of the signs, as well as to teach their children how to identify possible dangers.

The minister, in a recent Facebook post, noted that child abuse is pervasive and encouraged people not to dismiss children when they complain about any instance of abuse but to take these complaints seriously and report them.

“Once your child complains about a particular person, don’t keep quiet. Report any suspicious behaviour… Be careful who you bring into your home and introduce to your children. Most times, children are abused by close persons, family or friends. Child abuse is real and all too common,” Persaud stated.

She further advised parents and guardians to look for possible signs of grooming and to pay attention to any character or mood changes in their children.

“Never have your child visit an adult with whom they are not comfortable, and also consider whether your child suddenly becomes a big fan of a particular adult and wants to spend time around them—look for signs of grooming. If a very cheerful child suddenly becomes withdrawn, you may need to be patient and cautious, as well as clarify any concerns about the behavioural change,” the minister warned.

Persaud also encouraged parents and guardians to educate their children carefully about the correct values of sexuality, noting that if they fail to do so, others may teach them the wrong values.

“Teach your children from the age of three never to allow anyone to touch their private parts… Warn your daughter or son not to sit on anyone’s lap, no matter the situation, including uncles… Never allow an adult to refer to your child as ‘my wife’ or ‘my husband.’ Whenever your child goes out to play with their friends, be sure to find out what type of games they play, and whether any sexual activity is involved,” the minister advised.

She further urged parents and guardians to enable parental controls on their cable networks, phones, and other devices to which children have access.

In recent cases, on Monday, a 67-year-old man was sentenced to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty to the offence of sexual activity with a child under the age of 16. In another instance, on Tuesday, an 18-year-old man was charged with the same offence in connection with a 13-year-old and was granted bail set at $400,000.

Additionally, a 24-year-old mother was recently taken into police custody after being accused of beating her four-year-old daughter to death.

The Protection of Children Act of 2009 ensures the protection of all children from birth to 17 years old, including those with disabilities. It provides protection from all forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse, as well as issues such as neglect, abandonment, domestic violence, and denial of the right to education or medical attention.

The Act stipulates that everyone has a duty to report all forms of abuse to the police, who, in turn, must report it to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA).