Child abuse cases on the decline

Authorities have recorded a dramatic drop in reports of child abuse and are reporting the imminent introduction of mandatory reporting of suspected cases.

The latest statistics released to Barbados TODAY on Friday, by the state-run Child Care Board (CCB), show that cases have been falling steadily over the past five years.

The social agency said cases decreased from 1,446 during the 2015-2016 period, to 611 at the end of the 2019-2020 period.

CCB chairman Catherine Jordan told Barbados TODAY that 65 cases were referred to the police in 2020 for investigation and possible prosecution, compared to 62 the previous year.

“Fifty-three were sexual abuse referrals as compared to 49 for the corresponding period of the previous year. In addition, [there were] nine referrals pertaining to physical abuse and three referrals for neglect. Nine persons were charged for sexual offences, while two persons were charged for physical abuse,” she said, adding that one matter was closed and no criminal charges were brought against the accused.

Giving an update on proposals for mandatory reporting of suspected cases of child abuse, Jordan disclosed: “This is about to come into effect as a part of the new child protection legislation.”

One of the disturbing features of the statistics provided by the CCB was that 130 of the children abused in the last reporting period were four years or younger. Of those, 19 were sexually assaulted, 17 were physically abused, 84 were neglected, nine were impacted by emotional abuse, and one was abandoned.

Of equal concern to authorities is that during last year, some 296 children between the ages of five and 11 were violated, 37 of them sexually, 59 physically and 36 emotionally, while the other 164 were neglected. There were no reports of any child being abandoned in that age group.

The official information provided by the CCB indicates that most juvenile abuse in Barbados is targeted at minors up to age 15. A total of 16 children aged 16 and up were victims of various forms of abuse last year.

According to the statistics, while substantially more girls have been sexually abused, there was an increase in the number of boys physically ill-treated, neglected and emotionally violated. Overall, more girls are being abused in Barbados.

Senior Child Care Officer Roxanne Sanderson said there had been few reported cases during the COVID-19 lockdown that went into effect in February this year, but the numbers rose once Government eased the restrictions on movement.

“That could be due to the fact that people might not have had access to the telephone, probably, or due to the type of abuse you are not able to call out. But yes, coming out of the lockdown we saw an increase in the reported cases,” she said.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb