Caption: Rev Joy Abdul-Mohan. AZP News/Azlan Mohammed
RETIRED Presbyterian minister Rev Joy Abdul-Mohan says the children of Trinidad and Tobago are under attack.
In a message on World’s Children’s Day on Wednesday, she said, “It is evident that our children, the ‘gems of our nation’ are under attack.
“We cannot take the issue of child abuse lightly simply because they will be tomorrow’s adults and leaders.
“We must do all we can at every level of the society to protect our children. We must not only raise awareness but provide training and build communities around the empowerment of children as part of prevention.”
Abdul-Mohan, who is also the vice president of Rapidfire Kidz Foundation (RKF), said that parents, guardians, teachers and adults have a magnanimous responsibility to protect every child from the evil shoals of society.
She said, “Therefore, we are called to play an integral role in making World Children’s Day relevant for our society, community and nation.
“This Day offers us the opportunity, to promote and celebrate children’s rights, to reimage and build a better future for our children, to deepen our care for the most vulnerable, to do what is just and necessary for the fulfilment and preservation of the life of all children.
“We are called to change the heart of an unscrupulous society that has stolen the innocence and bright future of the ‘gems of our nation and world’.”
Abdul-Mohan said, “Sadly, we continue to witness a disgusting and obnoxious trend of sexual abuse and heinous acts of violence perpetrated against innocent children in our society. It is a trend that pains all of us and one that needs to be reversed urgently.
“As our lives continue to be disrupted by many unforseen circumstances, we seem to be going around in circles in our approach in dealing with the problem.
“Truth be told that policies and mechanisms to offer justice and a safer environment for children have been implemented.”
To help children, she said, there were a Child Protection Unit in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and a functioning Children’s Authority in the Public Service and at least a dozen civil society watchdog groups apart from the religious organisations focusing on the problem.
Abdul-Mohan said, “I ask the same question every year, where are we failing?
“Yearly, it is reported by the Children’s Authority of T&T, numerous cases of various forms of child abuse in T&T.
“A child’s entire future can be destroyed because of one loathsome incident which has the effect of seriously damaging or even ruining a young life and taking away the innocence of a child.
“Protecting children and giving them every opportunity to grow and reach their full potential without the burden or emotional and physical trauma and abuse, ought to be the concern of every citizen, especially religious institution and NGOs.”
