In celebration of World Children’s Day, the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Dr. Adis King, has raised crucial attention to the plight of children in Dominica. The World Children’s Day will be celebrated on November 20, 2020, and a number of activities has been highlighted for the event.
To make the celebration cut across everyone in the country, the Social Welfare Division in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment planned to make the event a very rewarding experience for all participants. The Child Abuse Prevention Unit and the Juvenile Justice Reform Project (JJRP) are also on hand to add flavour to the entire experience so that children and parents can live securely in the society as envisioned by the United Nations.
Referring to how many children across Dominica and the Caribbean as well as other parts of the world suffer domestic abuse, coordinator of the Child Abuse Prevention Unit, Mrs. Nichole Toussaint Jno Baptiste urged parents to lend a listening ear anytime their children recall experiences of abuse from people within their community. She said many children have remained silent after being raped and abused because no one would believe their story.
“Believe the child first, and let the police and courts prove whether the child is lying or not,” Baptiste said. “Believe the child first and get the truth after, if you know what I’m saying”.
Minister of Youths, Adis King, said the government will be working with the JJRP to carry out a Child Justice Programme to ensure the reduction of crimes to which children are exposed to. With the programme, children will be weaned from a life of violence and abuse so that they can grow up into responsible adults that would live for others instead of being a terror to the society.
“The child justice campaign is timely, as it sets aside time to raise awareness about children who commit crimes,” King said. “It is always saddening in any society when children commit crimes. The effect may not be visible but it runs deep into the social consciousness. Children who commit crimes are endangered; depending on the nature of the crimes, they may become targets for further crime. Their images may be tarnished for the rest of their lives. Indeed, youth crime could have serious consequences.”
According to statistics, almost three in four children (300 million worldwide) between the age of 2-4 years suffer domestic violence and abuse from parents and caregivers. Conversely, one in five women as well as one in 13 men between the ages of 0-17 years have been sexually abused, while girls below age 20 (120 million girls worldwide) have experienced some form of forced sexual contact.
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