Stand up against child abuse

Reverend Anne Hamilton-Cutting, co-founder of Action for Justice, challenged the community to stand up and speak out against issues that affect children of the society.

Hamilton-Cutting’s challenge was issued at the beginning of the Action for Justice march that began in Heroes’ Square yesterday morning. Under the theme, “It takes a community to protect a child”, the march was meant to empower the society to make a difference in the lives of children as well as bring awareness and sensitisation to the abuse and exploitation of children.

After quoting Nelson Mandela: “Our children are our greatest treasure. They are our future. Those who abuse them tear at the fabric of our society and weaken our nation”, Hamilton-Cutting expressed that this was the reason it was important for people to stand up against the injustices that children face in their lives.

She noted that child abuse “requires a co-ordinated approach, with a range of stakeholders working together to ensure that all children are protected and safeguarded in Barbados”.

She reported that a 2009 study revealed that the issue of sexual abuse of children is “a whole of a societal problem” and noted that everyone is potentially affected by this problem. The study also revealed that over 85 per cent of all perpetrators are known by their abusers, which seems to attribute to the under-reporting of child abuse in the society.

Additionally, Hamilton-Cutting noted that although more girls were abused than boys, the number of boys being abused was growing and added that since boys are more reluctant than girls to disclose sexual abuse, the true number of child abuse cases is unknown.

Action for Justice plans to do more than the march as the Co-Founder revealed that they aim to partner with Genesis Law Chambers to host a series of legal clinics, which is meant to increase sensitisation and awareness in every community in Barbados. Additionally, Action for Justice will also be offering legal assistance to victims of abuse.