Narissa Fraser
7 Minutes Ago
LOCAL research project/campaign Break the Silence – which seeks to bring an end to child abuse – says it is “concerned” by how frequently child sexual abuse cases were reported during lockdown measures owing to the covid19 pandemic.
According to its official webpage, the project began in 2008 after “the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, UNICEF, and the Centre for Gender and Development Studies (CGDS) at the University of West Indies, St Augustine signed a joint partnership.”
In a release on Saturday, lead researcher Professor Rhoda Reddock said the group is “heartened” by the visibility as reports are being made and “perpetrators held accountable.”
But she added, “At the same time, this is only a representation of a larger problem which must continue to have our attention. Child sexual abuse has numerous negative consequences for adult survivors, eg poor educational outcomes, psychological trauma, self-harm, et cetera.”
She said in addition to “legislative and criminal justice solutions,” the group is calling for actions that address “underlying causes” such as age-appropriate sexuality education in schools using trained professionals, and future parents in their “sexual decision-making.”
On Friday, the Child Protection Unit urged parents and guardians to exercise care and safety for their children, especially during a time when they may be at home without supervision.
The warning was issued after two men were arrested and charged for sexual assault on two female minors.
Source link
