Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
~10 alleged sexual abuse ~
PHILIPSBURG—Twenty-three cases of child abuse have been reported to the Court of Guardianship's Child Abuse Reporting Centre between January to August this year.
The figures were described as "scary" by Court of Guardianship Director Richelda Rodriguez-Emmanuel. Of the total number of cases reported, 10 were alleged sexual abuse of minors. Without divulging too many details, Rodriguez-Emmanuel said the reports ranged from sexual abuse and corporal punishment to physical abuse, neglect and mental abuse. The youngest alleged victim is five-years-old and the oldest age 14.
"It is scary the number of things that are coming out," Rodriguez-Emmanuel said, noting that it is very important that cases are reported in the interest of minors involved.
Rodriguez-Emmanuel, a social worker by profession, said the large number of cases being reported could be due to the fact that there is now more awareness in the community about the issue of abuse of minors. Efforts have been made to sensitize schools and the community about the existence of the Child Abuse Reporting Centre and the fact that the centre is the central point to file reports of abuse of minors.
Before the Child Abuse Reporting Centre, child abuse cases were reported to several places; however, all cases should now be channelled via the centre and this would be followed up with the relevant authorities. While it is not a necessity, Rodriguez-Emmanuel said persons making reports can walk with any form of evidence. In the case of physical abuse of a minor, for example, pictures can be provided as this will help with the process of investigation.
Once a report is made at the centre it is forwarded to the necessary authority. If it is a case of alleged child abuse at an institution such as a playschool, for example, the information would be passed on to the Inspectorate of Playschools for a formal investigation to be conducted.
If evidence if found of abuse after an investigation, the Child Abuse Reporting Centre would follow up with the parents/guardians of the minor(s) involved to file an official report at the police station for further action to be taken. The Child Abuse Reporting Centre also has the legal authority to advise a judge and prosecutor on an appropriate course of action.
"Since our campaign, the number of reports has been increasing; it went up because more people are reporting. It's not necessarily that there are more cases in the community," she said. "We talk about corporal punishment. Many people did not see this as child abuse, but this is child abuse in our system." She said neglect of a minor is also a form of abuse.
In the meantime, the centre is busy with a national outline on reporting for child abuse that would lead to a protocol with the various stakeholders. The national outline is a collaborative effort amongst the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs and Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Affairs.
