Over the past weeks there were several reports of teenagers ensuring violent sexual violations at the hands of persons they know.
Three of the most recent of these are a 14-year-old girl who accepted a drop home from a Regional Democratic Council driver in Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo); another 14-year-old who was raped by a 23-year-old and three brothers who were raped by their neighbour.
These startling disclosures have churned the stomach of society calls are being made for the respective agencies to address the high instances of sexual violence against children in Guyana.
Earlier this year, the Social Security Ministry had revealed that high on the types of abuse children endure are sexual and neglect in nature. In the high category of sexual abuse, the Child Care and Protection Agency had found that 688 girls were sexually abused, with 382 between the ages of 14 and 18 being abused at home. Astonishing also is the fact that many of these girls were violated and abused by persons brought into the homes.
Globally, staggering numbers of children are experiencing violence, in varied forms, often by those entrusted to take care of them. While girls are predominately the victims of sexual abuse, boys too experience abuse as well. The CCPA report had also revealed that 127 boys were sexually abused.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with UNICEF, UNESCO, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence against Children and the End Violence Partnership had said that half of the world’s children, or approximately 1 billion children each year are affected by physical, sexual or psychological violence, suffering injuries, disabilities and death, because countries have failed to follow established strategies to protect them.
The report – Global Status Report on Preventing Violence Against Children – is the first of its kind, charting progress in 155 countries against the “INSPIRE” framework, a set of seven strategies for preventing and responding to violence against children.
The report signals a clear need in all countries, including Guyana, to scale up efforts to implement these strategies. While 88% of the countries surveyed have key laws in place to protect children against violence, less than half of countries (47%) said these were being strongly enforced. It is therefore clear that having the policy framework in place is not enough, there is a serious challenge as it relates to implementation.
The INSPIRE strategies launched in 2016 call for the implementation and enforcement of laws; changing norms and values to make violence unacceptable; creating safe physical environments for children; providing support to parent and caregivers; strengthening income and economic security and stability; improving response and support services for victims; and providing children with education and life skills.
The report has stated that although a majority of countries (83%) have national data on violence against children, only 21% used these to set baselines and national targets to prevent and respond to violence against children.
According to the report’s findings, about 80% of countries have national plans of action and policies but only one-fifth have plans that are fully funded or have measurable targets. A lack of funding combined with inadequate professional capacity are likely contributing factors and a reason why implementation has been slow.
The report also noted that stay-at-home measures including school closures have limited the usual sources of support for families and individuals such as friends, extended family or professionals. This further erodes victims’ ability to successfully cope with crises and the new routines of daily life. Spikes in calls to helplines for child abuse and intimate partner violence have been observed.
And while online communities have become central to maintain many children’s learning, support and play, an increase in harmful online behaviours including cyberbullying, risky online behaviour and sexual exploitation have been identified.
WHO has underlined the need for global action to ensure that the necessary financial and technical support is available to all countries. It notes also that monitoring and evaluation are crucial to determine the extent to which these prevention efforts are effectively delivered to all who need them.
Dr Howard Taylor, a representatives of End Violence Partnership puts it this way: “Ending violence against children is the right thing to do, a smart investment to make, and it’s possible…We can and must create a world where every child can thrive free from violence and become a new generation of adults to experience healthy and prosperous lives.”
Like WHO and other partners, we believe that it is time to fully fund comprehensive national action plans that will keep children safe.
