Matthews – Child Abuse Month response a success

The 2011 Child Abuse Month has been described as a tremendous success by Cammie Matthews, Head of the Family Services Division in the Ministry of National Mobilization, Social Development, the Family, Persons with Disabilities, Youth, Sports and Culture.{{more}}

The month of April is designated as Child Abuse Awareness, Detection and Prevention month. This year’s theme was “Inspiring families, positive changes for a better society.”

Matthews, in an interview with SEARCHLIGHT on Friday, May 6, said that the events for the month of April had been a success, as the division received overwhelming support from the public.

He added that persons have expressed their gratitude to the Division for heightening the awareness of Child Abuse, as it helped them to realize that Child Abuse is more serious than they may have perceived.

Cases of child abuse were also reported, Matthews said. “We have had people coming forward and reporting cases to us, and doing so voluntarily,” he said, adding that persons have also pledged to do what they can to ensure that their children are treated with dignity and to encourage others to do the same.

Matthews further stated that education is necessary in the way forward. “Education is the way out of Child Abuse; it is the antidote,” Matthews said, adding that the Division plans to stage more educational programmes to sensitize the public on Child Abuse.

He added that the Division plans to focus on thoroughly educating persons about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and also to continue working on the Child Care Protocol and Reporting Policy.