By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ
On Tuesday, November 20, the World will observe Universal Children’s Day, a day that also marks “the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the declaration and the convention on children’s rights.”
Pope Francis has said that “a society that abandons children and marginalises the elderly cuts off its roots and darkens its future…To take care of little ones and the elderly is a choice of civilisation.”
Children’s Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on what it is like to be a child in T&T and in the world today. I want to focus on the situation in T&T.
T&T’s 2016 Universal Periodic Review lists a very impressive package of legislation and framework for the protection of children – proclaimed on May 18, 2015 by the President, including The Children Act, 2012; The Children’s Authority Act, 2000; and The Children’s Authority Regulations 2014.
In reality, though, how are we protecting our children and promoting their welfare? In February Children’s Authority chairman, Haniff Benjamin, stated that since the inception of the Children’s Authority in 2015 there has been more than 55,000 calls for child protection, of which 13,500 required their intervention. He said that “from last year into this year we have seen some of the most atrocious acts against our children … We are receiving 20 to 30 calls a day for care and protection.”
In T&T the rights of many children are violated because of e.g. poverty and social exclusion, child abuse, incest, and domestic violence. There have been a number of heinous murders perpetrated against children over the past ten years and very few of the perpetrators have been caught. And where are the role models and mentors who will save our children from being lured to join gangs?
The recent report by Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Child Protection Unit states that there is a considerable increase in child sexual penetration and touching as compared to 2017.
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The TTPS is asking parents to be vigilant, to monitor who their children see, and to be aware of the prevalence of cyber predators.
To level the playing field for all children let’s address issues affecting their parents/guardians/families e.g. unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime environments, bad health and family breakdown. Some minors are employed in family businesses, in the agricultural sector etc. and either drop out of school or miss many days of school.
If we do not address the deficiencies in our education system we will continue to fail a large proportion of our children. On a daily basis some children face discrimination because of perceptions about the kind of persons who live in the areas in which they live with their families. About 10 percent of T&T’s children are disabled. Do we have data on the nature and extent of their needs? Are we targeting resources to meet their needs?
The July 2018 US State Department’s 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report once again stated that T&T is deemed to be “a destination, transit, and source country for adults and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour”. The 14 victims of human trafficking rescued and sent for care last year included one male and one female minors.
T&T has a draft Policy dealing with migrants and refugees, but no legislation. There are more than 300 children in need of access to comprehensive education among those who have come to our shores seeking refuge. As they wait, UNICEF and Living Water Community seek to meet their educational needs – albeit limited.
Promoting and protecting Family Life/the welfare of children are justice issues. The disintegration of family life across the country is serious cause for concern. In T&T there are children who are rearing children e.g. barrel children whose parents are abroad and an older child is responsible for rearing his/her younger siblings.
All government ministries should examine their policies, procedures and practices to evaluate their impact on children. The media has a crucial role in highlighting all forms of discrimination against children and in championing their cause. I call on all faith communities, and communities in general to commit to create environments in which our children can thrive and grow to realise their potential.
