1,200 reported child abuse cases in Dominica between 2010 and 2016

Azille-Lewis spoke at a workshop on Monday

Child abuse continues to be a major issue in Dominica and Coordinator of the Child Abuse Prevention Unit, Jemma Azille-Lewis, has said statistics show that over 1,200 children have been abused on the island between 2010 and 2016.

Out of that 900 of these cases were sexually related.

Azille-Lewis spoke at the opening ceremony of a one-day training with Barbers/men in the area of Child Protection and Domestic Violence at the Fort Young Hotel on Monday.

The workshop is being held in collaboration with the Bureau of Gender Affairs and Caribbean Male Action Network (CariMAN).

“When you look at what is happening in Dominica, we do have an issue. When you look at the years 2010 to 2016 and you look at the children who have been abused; we have over 1,200 children who have been abused during that time,’ she revealed, adding that over 900 were sexually related.

“We have an issue and it is something that we need to tackle,” she said.

In February 2016, Azille-Lewis reported that statistics show that 128 children were sexually abused in Dominica in 2015.

And based on the statistics, she said babies are also being abused on the island.

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21 Comments

  1. Disgruntled
    August 23, 2017

    So while we are disgusted at the perps and the government for not being active and proactive, how about the employees who ae singing for their supper? They are afraid to ask for what is needed or to speak up for fear of losing their job. We have failed those children miserably. We have let them down. This system leaves a lot to be desired. You are reporting 1200 victims and I can bet there are not 12 perpetrators. We need to establish laws where it automatically becomes a social welfare case to proceed and not depend on the mothers. We know many of them take ‘hush money’. Do not help them to sell our children. Establish a list of offenders and make it public. I understand there is a big house in Jimmit where these children can find some form of rescue. If their parents are not adequately protecting them from whatever form of abuse, we need to do something. When you have a workshop how does that help the victims? Why were barbers chosen? How does that help? Give us a…

  2. Socially conscious
    August 22, 2017

    Why the numbers so high…what the welfare doing. ?just running numbers?? Why don’t we know who the sex offenders are so we can protect our children! There needs to be a list of names… But most of all we need to stop keeping these abuse secret and stop accepting bribes for the children’s innocence

  3. TheManyFacedGod
    August 22, 2017

    but those children good disgusting too. some of them is blows they need self!!

  4. LifeandDeath
    August 22, 2017

    This points to a sick part of the population. I imagine most of these cases record MEN as the perpetrators. Too many men are idle in their minds. They don’t occupy themselves meaningfully.
    No evil spirit has anything to do with it. It’s about the Man and his mind, and how well the Man is able to mange his mental faculties.
    “As the physically weak man can make himself strong by careful and patient training, so the man of weak thoughts can make them strong by exercising himself in right thinking.” from As a Man Thinketh, James Allen.

  5. DA girl
    August 22, 2017

    My God..this is disgusting and evil!!! We need to have more stringent punishment for these monsters! Castration!! Lord I don’t know what I would do if someone abused my children…Jesus would have to take the wheel cause is not anything good I have in mind. People so police need to meet before I meet them….

  6. I'M NOT A PRIME MISTAKE!!!
    August 22, 2017

    :?: What is wrong with these perverts and pedophiles on this island! :?: For such a small island rock with a small population, this is disgraceful! This island seems to have a demonic spirit roaming in high and low places! :?: I’m not at all surprised though! This is one of the places i’ve noticed that most men are without a wife/woman! You go around the island and all you see is alot of men gathered drinking alcohol and smoking, then when nature calls,the most vulnerable are taken advantage of sexually! These posing as government are not serious about protecting the children by dealing harshly with the perpetrators! Is it because they are also guilty of such abuse! :?: I heard a government minister who sometimes act as prime mistake making critical statements against those who speak out about the protection of children. From what I can see, this island is being ruled by satan disciples!!!

    • TheManyFacedGod
      August 22, 2017

      child abuse doesnt always mean sexual. Can be neglect, verbal, physical.

  7. ATKINSON
    August 22, 2017

    Only in dominica. Is this lady lewis trying to keep her position/job going. So if 1200 children were abuse, ok where did she get these numbers from. Is it from the police department, and were the abused report to the police. of there 1200 abuse how many perp’s were arrested, or investigated. Does she has the statistics. Is she in contact with the police commissioner, or the prime minster office so arrest or investigations can be made,, and who or were ever she get the statistics from are they contacting the police. So the police can arrest MP”s for blocking traffic, and there are 1200 abuse cases, and then she has a “workshop” t . What is the old saying, there is a liar, a dam lair and a statistician

  8. D/can to DE bone
    August 22, 2017

    This is a disgrace in Dominica for small island like mine have all this abuse of underage children and seems going unnoticed . WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT, MINISTER UNDER WHICH PORTFOLIO COMES UNDER DOING . So much talk have been said about abuse before and to me no one is taking responsible or doing something about it . am very disgust at what i am hearing about the numbers of children being abuse. Imagine an MP in this country read the article and asked me why is this not address by the authority. He said it not the first time he heard of this situation in Dominica .

    It seems the Court system is also weak in dealing with the perpetrator

    GOD held Dominica .
    i want the PM to deal with the matter as as urgent . I am going write to him also

    • Ibo France
      August 22, 2017

      @D/can to De bone. The Department of Child Abuse Prevention Unit MUST be given the adequate resources (money, well trained committed personnel, etc.) for it to carry out its mandate efficiently and effectively. This department needs its profile to be given more prominence. The Child Abuse Prevention Unit, the Police and the DPP office should work closely together. Remember, our children are our most precious resources and no matter the cost, it’s imperative that we protect them from all dangers. The public too has to play its part by being vigilant and reporting any untoward relationship between adults and juveniles to the relevant authorities.

  9. Shermaine
    August 21, 2017

    Is the unit just there to record numbers or to help numbers for
    Go down?

  10. P.I.
    August 21, 2017

    get them nasty culprits, they are all related some how or other.damn shame

  11. TIna Alexander
    August 21, 2017

    Less than 10% of child abuse cases are successfully prosecuted. We desperately need a new court system to cope with these cases in a humane and speedy manner. Bring on the Family Court and videoed disclosure interviews. Stop the confrontation on the scene and cross examination of child witnesses in court. Let the lawyers and jury examine the interview recording. Current processes encourage intimidation and bribery.
    We have a specialist magistrate……for what? TRAFFIC! Stop the Preliminary Inquiry in person and do it on paper with a specially trained judiciary…..This isn’t rocket science. Change the system and you will have fewer cases because the repeat offenders will be in prison!

  12. August 21, 2017

    The issue of child abuse has its foundations rooted in the slavery experience of our people, Dominica is not isolated , from Jamaica in the north to Trinidad the same song is being played, Having our culture taken from us, we are left degraded, in a condition of not knowing.Children, never successfully comes out of being abused, it hunts them and in most cases passes it off to their children, it don’t take much to trigger child abuse, poverty,alcoholism, and in many cases, lack of nuclear support, plays a direct part.We have been taught self hate, and in so doing we also hate our seeds, if the village is really rearing the child, covering up child abuse would be in the past, but i beg to differ.Bob D.

  13. Bless up
    August 21, 2017

    I am so disappointed in the Government of Dominica and the Ministry of Social Service. The stats are alarming and what has the gov’t put in place to curb this unnecessary evil. Traditionally the Govt had placed insufficient emphasis on social, mental and emotionally wellbeing and development of its people.
    It appalling to know the limited human and financial resources that has been placed upon this ministry.
    It means that hundred of our children will group up emotionally and psychologically broken.
    Abuse is a cycle, it means that those who abused those kids were likely abused as children as well.
    My heart breaks for the children of Dominica.
    I am very very sad……

  14. Chester
    August 21, 2017

    Whaaat 1200? Now that is not just an ‘issue ‘, for a population of 70000 it is AN EMERGENCY!

  15. anonymous2
    August 21, 2017

    And that is only the tip of the iceberg.

  16. Jessie
    August 21, 2017

    Are you guys only checking from 2010 to 2016, what about those from way back when, what happened to these kids no one is speaking for them.????

  17. Nurse
    August 21, 2017

    That is way too many cases…Wake up Dominica. Let us take care of our children. They are gifts from God.

  18. Ibo France
    August 21, 2017

    The abuse of minors, especially by sexual predators, should be frowned upon and the perpetrators should be pursued relentlessly and brought before a magistrate or a judge. The government should invest more resources in the Child Abuse Prevention Unit and other relevant departments to severely curtail abuses too many of our children have to suffer and endure. Too many things and events in our society are overly sexualized (concerts, advertisement, adult conversations) etcetera, and these add to the problem. Sexual abuse and other abuses of children need to be given the prominent attention it deserves, because of the pernicious nature of the damage that is done.

  19. I really want to know
    August 21, 2017

    So that means about 400 each year for the past 4 years? Can you imagine adding those that were not reported, which might be even higher? With this alarming number I believe the Judiciary should stop slapping people on the risks and stop playing their politics by trying to punish a messenger for point it out while the true culprits are bragging of their farms. I also believe it would help us eradicate this problem if the authorities would tell us how many of the culprits were pastors, how many were police officers, how many politicians, how many farmers, how many government ministers, if any, how many teachers etc. I think it’s time to let these guys know we are watching them, no matter what they do as profession because these kids are hurt for life. We need to send a much stronger message to these….

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