Guyana will join the rest of the world in observing International Children’s Day on June 1. On this occasion the Alliance For Change is calling for an end to all forms of abuse, discrimination and victimisation perpetrated against our children, and for the implementation of systems that actually provide our children with opportunities to grow and develop in safe neighbourhoods.
The AFC believes that for far too long we have allowed our children to become victims of torture, of paedophiles and of persons who prey on children in difficult circumstances.
Despite all the legislation we have passed and there have been quite a few, too many of our children still suffer from violent verbal and physical abuses both in and out of their homes. Many of them are forced into child labour due to poverty and worse still many are forced, coerced or tricked in to the child sex trade. This is a disgusting state of affairs and must be arrested.
How often have we heard, “our children are our future.” For these words to have any real meaning we must do more than shout the platitudes. The responsibility for ensuring every child is protected and allowed to enjoy the freedom of childhood falls on the shoulders of all adults. But, in many instances, instead of protecting our children, adults are the one who abuse, discriminate and victimise our children. In most instances when we hear of a child being abused, we find out that the abuser is an adult and more then that it is an adult who was in a position of trust.
Last week the Alliance For Change called for a national caucus to address teen violence. On Monday, two high school students in the West Demerara area were chopped about their body by an assailant who waited outside their school.
Legislation alone cannot protect our children. It is time for all rational adults to get involved so that our children can be safe.
Collective approaches must be found to tackle the problems affecting our children. This is not a problem for only the government, the opposition or any single political party or group. The problems affecting our children are national problems and demand a comprehensive national approach where all of society, our politicians, religious leaders, the business community, women and youth groups, educators and all of civil society will be engaged. The AFC repeats its call for a national caucus on children and teens. [END]
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