On January 24, the Childcare Protection Agency (CPA), through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Protection released its report on the problem of child abuse in Guyana for the year 2020. It is immediately apparent that our country has a major situation which must be addressed most robustly and with great urgency. The report revealed that in the last year, there were 3,129 reports of child abuse; 1,698 of the victims were female. Considering our small population, and the fact that one can state with absolute certainty that the number of reported cases are but a small fraction of the actual number of incidents of child abuse, it is evident that Guyana has a big problem that must be fixed without delay.
The effects of abuse on victims are well known by the experts who spend their lives studying such matters. The resulting horrible mental and physical wounds could last for a lifetime. Mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis have been proven to be prevalent among victims of abuse. On the physical side, childhood abuse has been shown to produce lasting physical injuries including brain damage, Further, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), abuse during a person’s childhood years could shorten the victim’s lifespan by 7 to 15 years. That is because childhood abuse interferes with structures in the body’s cells called telomeres. And telomeres, to a large extent, determine how long a person will live.
The respected Mayo Clinic says that, “Any intentional harm or mistreatment to a child under 18 years old is considered child abuse. Child abuse takes many forms, which often occur at the same time.” The abuse could be sexual, physical, emotional, or neglectful in nature.
While it is known that the causes of child abuse are varied and complex, one expert summarised it. Founding editor of the International Journal of Children’s Rights, Michael Freeman, argues that the ultimate causes of child abuse lie in prejudice against children, especially the view that human rights do not apply equally to adults and children. He writes, “the roots of child abuse lie not in parental psycho-pathology or in socio-environmental stress — though their influences cannot be discounted — but in a sick culture which denigrates and depersonalises, which reduces children to property, to sexual objects so that they become the legitimate victims of both adult violence and lust.” One may easily understand what Mr. Freeman means when one thinks of the fact that it is the crime of assault if one adult hits another adult, yet, a parent may inflict merciless “licks” on a vulnerable and defenceless child, with absolutely no legal repercussions.
The fact is, in Guyana, child abuse is a crime. Guyanese are aware that most instances of abuse occur in the context of punishment. Nonetheless, in this enlightened era, it must be acknowledged that there is no excuse to unleash sexual, physical or emotional violence on any child. There is, too, no reason that any child should be deprived of a happy childhood owing to neglect of his or her physical, medical, material or emotional needs. As such, Guyanese must work harder to eradicate the plague and horror of child abuse. If we need to change our ways of thinking or our cultural inclinations in order to accomplish that objective, then, so be it. After all, our children are our most valuable asset; they embody the future of humanity. And, if we do not protect and nurture them, who will?
