Minister for Social Services, Gender Affairs, and Family, Catherine Daniel has encouraged children to take a stand and report anyone who may address them inappropriately.
She made that remark during a workshop entitled “Child Protection in Sports” held at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium on Monday.
According to Daniel in order for any child protection initiative to be successful, children must play their part.
“Accordingly, I say unto children to be responsible, obey the rules and regulations,” she said while addressing the opening ceremony. “If anyone addresses you inappropriately, report it.”
Daniel also called on the public to stand up for each other and be one another’s keeper.
She pledged her full support and that of her ministry to the efforts of the Social Welfare Division in any initiative which is geared towards the protection of children.
“I also call upon every citizen of Dominica to play their part,” she stated.
Meantime; Coordinator of the Child Abuse Prevention Unit, Jemma Azille Lewis said it is essential that people be trained in areas of child protection.
“It is essential that the welfare of all young people be put as priority and there is the adoption practice that supports, protects and empowers the children,” she noted. “Hence, it is essential that all persons in this specialty be trained in the area of child protection.”
The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Social Services through the Child Abuse Prevention Unit in collaboration with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and UNICEF which targets Physical Education Teachers on the island as well as coaches on island, as part of continued efforts in creating awareness of child abuse, child care and protection in Dominica.
The government and specifically the ministry Catherine Daniel leads is visionless at he leadership level, that includes her position. YOu put people from cxc to manage a sensitive issue as families and children it is a recipe for disaster. There is no initiative that will come form Catherine, she does not know what to do and do fare in far is absent to the reality of running, managing or even taking initiative on such sensitive matters.
The minister has delivered an incomplete message.
Children need to know what measures are in place to provide for them if and when they report. What system is in place to protect them from the stigma that naturally follows, because there are those in the community who will take pleasure in tormenting them.
Does Dominica have an orphanage or fostering system in place? With such a system in place, how does the department guarantee that they are not taking the child from one abusive environment to another?
You can’t just ask children to put their necks on the block like that. You have to be able to guarantee them their security as well.
When is bearing children in school because they didn’t understand something illegal ? It is child abuse too.
This statement from Mrs Daniels is disingenuous, and completely avoids the real issue. To offer advice to children and parents is to look at the event AFTER the fact and NOT address the real issue of abusers abusing children. The effect of shock, horror, acute embarrassment, fear and intimidation on ADULTS cannot be underestimated. Which usually results in silence and psychological suffering. And to expect a child to react in a proactive way is DISINGENUOUS. she should condemn the perpetrators and hold them to account and publicly shame them rather than look to the victims for solutions.
Thanks Lady Daniel, good call. While you are at it, please convince your femaile parliamentary colleagues to speak about raising the age of consent to 18 years and then convince your cabinet members to take this very important amendment of the Sexual Abuse Law to parliament. We need it now – for the sake of our young girls. They have been ignored by politicians for too long. We need to be serious about protecting our young girls – please Ms. Daniel. Talk to Ms. Blanchard, Mrs. Baron, Ms. Paul, Mrs. Charles, Ms. Monnel Williams, the Speaker of the House, talk to Mrs. Laureen Bannis and Ms. Banjamin from Wesley. The women in parliament need to take this up – Act on behalf of the young girls and women, please madam, I beg of you. I am hurting so bad – because a young 16 year old should not be able to consent by law.
Why don’t we discuss the real issue? These broken homes with the baby mamas – live in boyfriends – unmarried parents create these situations.
Remember the old days Dominica – when our parents would get married and have a bunch of kids. Times were hard but they stayed together until they got old and you called them Ma Alfred and Mr. Alfred, Ma Joe and Mr. Joe, etc. The good old days.
Let’s focus on the family – bring back the old family values so we can get rid of this virus that plagues our island.
There should be somebody appointed in each elementary school the students know they can talk to in confidence if anybody (in or outside the school) troubles them. This includes suggestive conversation, an invitation to go somewhere with them, inappropriate touching, looking, picture taking, offering them drugs, etc.
It should be a trained and trusted individual; a principle, teacher, nurse, or counselor. Somebody easily accessible. A person who will listen with kindness; a strong, compassionate, and caring person who will go with them to the police if necessary. This person must understand if there is a criminal allegation it is the job of the police to investigate not theirs. They are not to confront the accused if it is a serious sexual matter.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist. (Pastoral Counselor Certificate)
Hipocrites, why are you lawmaker dragging your feet?, to steal poor peoples properties, you guy har 3 reading in one day, but for the children it gonna take months, incompetent fools
I was raped as well .by a st.lucian stranger i repoted the case as day
Then my 1st daughter was raped under the age of 6 by my boy friend who was the father of my 8 months baby.
I took action and reported it.
That baby grew into a beautifull teen . When i sent her Dominica on December vocation 2009 . A Dominican boy rape her.i contact the police Dominica and tell them.
Hear me and read my true story.
The law is sick and twisted none of my cases i got justice.
The court digs and digs and make you the victim looks like the guilty one.
This is so imotional to visit that area.
If it was not for God of Heaven . I WOULD BE CRAZY ..ECT
1ST is me……then my 1st daughter…and my teenage 2nd daughter
That is pain …
We all got rape. Its not a curse ….that rape thing is a walking demon in the life of men
And listen up making men go with men will now give these demon more power. They will come after our boys. And go after the women bottom then kill them.
Help our Dominica…
Mrs.Daniel this is too late and you should step down,Ask your so called supreme leader to condemn these gruesome acts on our young girls,You and the rest of the officials in Dominica have been aware of the acts and have turned a blind eye,All of you have to answer to the Almighty soon.Time will tell in due time.
Cameron:
If you have evidence of these things you yourself should have reported them.
You should not be criticising Catherine Daniel now for short comings – real – or imagined – in such a challenging job in he public service.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald hill. Evangelist.
rev donald, what are you saying, cameron is right, mrs daniel should step down, how can she be asking young wemen to report abuse cases, when cases heve been and is still being reported ,and in her face, with her help ,they are being trashed by the corrupt cabal of which she is a part of , because a member or members are being implicated ,what foolishness is that cathrine is just an actor,
and is not just sexual abuse all abuse
This is just talk, talk, talk from a talking minister that does not have fire to turn talk into action. Just another free talk show.
If I were Ms Catherine Daniel as Minister responsible for Social Services, Gender Affairs, and Family, I would do two things this morning:
1. I would use the opportunity to congratulate, and even award the young girl and family for speaking out. That sure would encourage others to speak out.
2. I would use the opportunity to condemn/denounce the action (s) of the three men that have allegedly behaved inappropriately against her
3. I would use the opportunity to call on those that are trying to hide behind the technicality of judicial review, to stop it and face their music
4. I would use my influence to call on our magistrates and judges to ensure their decision is guided by protecting our children.
5. I would call on the government to use it’s influence to ensure justice is served in this matter
7. Resign from this cabal. You too old for that
With due respect! I honestly believe that, abuse should not stand alone, Let us try “Cruelty and Abuse”. Children,you may lose friends but you can also make better friends. Please tell someone don’t matter how small, we won’t hate you for it, we can only love you more. Don’t be afraid we will protect you
Also call upon the parents to report abuse. The “covering up” always starts with them.
What is needed is a law that makes it mandatory for ANYONE knowing of sexual child abuse taking place to report it to the police. It should be a law that carries a severe penalty for ANYBODY who does not comply.
Women who have husbands or live-in boyfriends who sexually abuse the children and are not being reported because they pay the bills or give the women money must be made face justice. These women are literally pimping the children and there is no kinder way to say it. They belong in jail.
Only the government can make the needed changes. As long as they sit on their hands there is nothing you can do except plan what you are going to do at the next election.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
A bit much a little too late, don’t you think.
How can it ever be too late.
While we are at it, there needs to be measures in place to hold responsible the adults who know of the abuse and do not report it. Whether it is a mother, aunt, teacher, ect. Failure to report a known abuse with concrete evidence by anyone close to the situation should be a chargeable offence. At the same time, in order to eliminate or minimize false and vindictive accusations, there should be something in place to charge anyone who falsely accuse anyone of such offences.
#OLD
This is a very sensible and accurate comment.
There MUST be mandatory reporting. Why has the government not moved on this? Oh, the guilt and shame that lays upon those who could have done something and refused!
What a dreadful day of judgment is coming.
Visit my website
http://www.livinghopeministries.ca
Click onto SERMONS and listen to my sermon FACING THE REALITY OF SIN if you dare.
Then listen to the sermon THE NEW BIRTH.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
thanks catherine you are a fearless person. but i would like alixs boyd knight to follow your foot steps and condemn those abuse…
forket , you are fooling yourself , no one have balls under reusevelt skeritt mrs daniel had to ask him if she could make that statement, , she is a coward ,just like all the other ministers
mrs daniel is too grown up to be involve in this children games,she could be skeritts mother, instead ,she allowed skeritt to be her father,leading her in the wrong way of life, what a shame
Alex Boyd Knight….She used to, now she is silent. She needs to lecture the government and not hassle the opposition about nothing.