The increase in child sexual abuse in the Virgin Islands was brought to the attention of media operatives yesterday February 4, 2015 by Mrs Carolyn Stoutt-Igwe (centre), Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Development. Photo: VINO

'We have this whole thing about transactional sex. We do have mothers who prostitute their daughters. They basically use their children to get money…. Some people, even if they suspect they don’t want to report,' said Mrs Carolyn Stoutt-Igwe. Photo: VINO

Statistics shared with reporters and media workers who attended the training shows the prevalence of the four main forms of abuse being sustained by children. For the period 2004 – 2014 the cumulative figures shows that twenty five (25) or 5% of the cases suffered emotional abuse, one hundred and forty two (142) or 29% were victims of physical abuse, one hundred and seventy two (172) or 35% of the reported cases were for child neglect and one hundred and fifty three (153) or 31% were for sexually abused children. The total number of cases recorded for that eleven (11) year period is four hundred and ninety two (492). Photo: VINO

The VI has been charged with the challenge of taking the lead with this. Throughout this week the department has been conducting a number of sessions sensitizing the various stakeholders. The partners in the protocol are the legal arms, the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), police, education, social service providers and health. Photo: VINO

This disturbing information was disclosed yesterday February 4, 2015 when a cross-section of media representatives participated in a Child Rights and Child Protection protocol training executed by the Ministry of Social Development in collaboration with the Department for International Development (DFID) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The prevalence of young girls being encouraged by their mothers to engage in prostitution and the spiraling number of child sexual abuse, neglect and physical abuse, were among the shocking revelations.

“We have this whole thing about transactional sex. We do have mothers who prostitute their daughters. They basically use their children to get money…. Some people, even if they suspect, they don’t want to report,” said Mrs Carolyn Stoutt-Igwe, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Development.

It was underlined that one of the major causes for this and other forms of child abuse is the extent of poverty that exists in the Virgin Islands (VI).

While it has been noted that this is nothing strange throughout the Caribbean Region, one needs to be mindful to protect the next generation that should be groomed to become the next leaders, parents and such like.

Statistics shared with reporters and media workers who attended the training shows the prevalence of the four main forms of abuse being sustained by children. For the period 2004 – 2014 the cumulative figures show that twenty five (25) or 5% of the cases suffered emotional abuse, one hundred and forty two (142) or 29% were victims of physical abuse, one hundred and seventy two (172) or 35% of the reported cases were for child neglect and one hundred and fifty three (153) or 31% were for sexually abused children. The total number of cases recorded for that eleven (11) year period is four hundred and ninety two (492).

“I think that’s a lot even though its eleven years, for a small place,” said Ms Stoutt-Igwe.

According to Ms Stoutt-Igwe, what has caught the attention of the department and those local agencies dealing with cases of these nature is the fact that while the report shows physical abuse accounts for the greater percentage, is the fact that for the period of 2012 to 2014 the number of children suffering child sexual abuse has spiraled significantly.

“Up until 2009 neglect use to be the highest case for abuse type in the territory, we have been shifting, since 2012. Sexual abuse has been the highest child abuse type in the territory and the numbers continue to climb,” stated Ms Stoutt-Igwe.

“Why is sexual abuse becoming so prevalent? It could be many reasons for that but then again we need to look at some of the home situations…” she added.

With this being noted as a major problem throughout the Caribbean region some years ago, Caribbean leaders had gone to caucus to come up with a strategy to combat this painful situation. This resulted in the drafting of the Bridgetown Declaration and Agenda for Action to Combat Child Sexual Abuse in the Caribbean.

The document put together is basically calling on governments throughout the region to take action. Consequent of this, a framework was developed under four broad areas where governments were asked to work on making the necessary changes in terms of institutional reforms.

“The timeframe in which cases are heard in the court, making it more child friendly, looking at the Protocol..the Protocol that we have signed was one of those things we were asking for because like the BVI, other countries… they were not working together as they should, not collaborating well as they should, so that’s why we have a protocol…”

The VI has been charged with the challenge of taking the lead with this. Throughout this week, the department has been conducting a number of sessions sensitising the various stakeholders. The partners in the protocol are the legal arms, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), police, education, social service providers and health.