Juvenile perpetuators of sexual harassment can be charged – Ann Greene

Child Care and Protection Agency Director Ann Green recently reminded that juvenile perpetuators of sexual harassment are not exempted from the laws, and they, too, can be charged.
The CCPA director made this statement as she was responding to a question voiced by a curious audience member at a forum which encouraged discussions on sexual harassment.
Greene, who specifically addressed the issue of sexual harassment in institutional care, said, “Institutional care is a life saver for children sometimes, but is also a dangerous place to be. Children should not be in institutional care; and even when we place them there, we’re trying to get them out as fast as possible.”

She accepted the fact that although the institutions are monitored, the act occurs. “They are monitored, but, in some homes, the challenges are there, and sexual abuse in institutions happens; but we are trying to not let it happen in our institutional care, but there is a possibility that it will happen,” Green pointed out.
The director was keen to note that sexual harassment in the institutions are “mostly children with children”, and pointed to the fact that children in care are given the opportunity to talk and interact with persons outside of the homes.
According to her, the agency has not recorded many cases of sexual harassment. As a matter of fact, she said, the “couple of cases” reported, were dealt with seriously.
Due to this and other reasons, Green said, “We want to prevent children from becoming institutionalized; and if a child stays over four months in an institution, that child becomes institutionalized. So when we place children in an institution, we have to get them out really quickly…going to an institution is a last resort.”
The agency usually explores all other options she noted.
It is also against that backdrop that the Mentorship and Foster Care Programs were introduced, Green said.
The Child Care provider explained that juveniles can be charged for sexual harassment. According to her, the laws of Guyana provide a clause with ‘close-age’. Close-age, she said, is where the sex is consensual, but the two parties involved are both underage. In those cases, Green said, the two parties would be subjected to counselling by the CC&PA. However, if consent was not given and the offender is of age, the offender can be charged for the offence of rape, which is nothing new in this Department.