Teach signs of abuse early

IN LIGHT of horrifying stories of young children being infected with Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) after being molested, local child care providers are being urged to use age-appropriate and culturally relevant tools to teach young children about child abuse and other child protection issues.

Delivering opening remarks at the Child Care Board’s Tools for Early Learners Workshop, Dr. Aloys Kamuragiye, the Representative UNICEF Officer for the Eastern Caribbean Area, said interviews with some adult survivors conducted in the past suggested that abuse for some of them, or their siblings, started during the pre-school years.

“Additionally, we received reports from countries and we hear on the news media the shocking stories of young children with STIs; the horrifying stories of young children having been digitally penetrated. I say to you again that children are never too young to learn,” she said.

Dr Kamuragiye said as it relates to age-appropriate and culturally relevant tools being taught to children, it may not help them to defend themselves from a more powerful perpetrator, but it will help to raise their antennas; it will help them to realise something does not look right; this touch does not feel right; this secret makes me uncomfortable; this look makes me feel uncomfortable.

“It may also help to build their courage to tell someone and to continue to tell if needs be until some adult like you or I believe them and have the courage to report. I say to you again, children are never too young to learn,” the UNICEF official said.

On that note, Dr Kamuragiye congratulated the Child Care Board for organising the workshop and for following through with its commitment related to the 2012 Bridgetown Accord where, among other things, countries pledged to ensure that all persons who meet children are empowered to teach them about what they can do to protect themselves and about reporting.

“You see often we focus on sensitizing children in the primary and secondary sector and we forget early childhood sector. Let me remind you that the work does not stop after the workshop has ended. Indeed, it has only begun.

“We trust that as you get a new set of children entering your day care center each year that you make it your business to ensure that every child who come under your care does not transition to the primary level without knowing what is appropriate and inappropriate touches, about sexual grooming, bullying and the importance of reporting,” he said. (AH)