Over 2600 child abuse cases were recorded in 2025

– child neglect a leading form

The Human Services and Social Security Ministry has recorded some 2600 child abuse cases so far this year, with neglect identified as the leading cause – primarily involving mothers and fathers.

Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud revealed that while many assume sexual abuse leads the list, neglect remains the most prevalent form of child abuse in Guyana.
“We would have found over 2800 reported cases, of which more than 2600 were confirmed after investigation. The top cause is neglect – not sexual abuse, as many might think. Following that is physical abuse, and then sexual abuse. In terms of perpetrators, mothers and fathers are at the top of the list, followed by others,” she explained.
To address this issue, the Ministry has implemented several targeted interventions, including the Street Light Project, launched three years ago to support children living and working on the streets.
“When we speak of abuse, it includes neglect – it’s not just about sexual abuse. Through the Childcare and Protection Agency, we’ve been working with children identified through the Street Light Project, and this year alone, about 30 children have received direct assistance,” Dr Persaud added.
To tackle the issue more effectively, the Ministry is developing a rapid response team to work through the night, ensuring that children are not left vulnerable in unsafe environments. However, the Minister acknowledged a severe shortage of child protection officers, which poses a significant challenge.
Currently, over 350 children are in state care.
Dr Persaud explained that when a child is removed from an unsafe environment, a forensic interview is conducted in the presence of police, child protection officers, and a family representative.
“The interview is done once, and the child’s voice is heard, except in cases where it’s a baby or toddler,” she said.
As of mid-February 2025, Minister Persaud has revealed that 275 child-abuse cases were addressed in 2025, following a total of 4038 such cases having been reported in 2024.
The categories of abuse include physical, emotional, sexual, verbal, and neglect, among others; and a breakdown of child sexual abuse cases by region for 2024 shows that the highest number of cases were reported in Region Four; 466, followed by Region Two with 181 cases, Region One with 51 cases, Region Three with 145, Region Five with 83, Region Six with 147, Region Seven with 10, Region Eight with 21, Region Nine with 50 and Region 10 with 48.
During 2024, more than 4000 cases of child abuse were reported, with 1202 of them involving sexual abuse. The CPA (Childcare and Protection Agency) responded to over 2700 cases in the same year.