Child abuse a major problem in Dominica

child sex abuseChild abuse remains a major problem in Dominica with 157 cases, the majority sexual abuse, reported between January to September 2015.

Following a walk against child abuse on Saturday, Coordinator of Child Abuse Prevention Unit, Jemma Azille-Lewis, described the situation as “sad” and one that requires the assistance of everyone.

“In Dominica we continue to be faced with child abuse, it is a problem, it is something that we need to work against, it is something that we need to talk against,” she said.

She pointed out that in 2014 a total of 170 cases were reported and from January to September 2015, 157 cases have already been brought to the attention of the authorities. The majority of them are child sexual abuse, she noted.

“So that continues to be a problem,” Azille-Lewis noted. “Our children are continuing to be violated and violated by the persons whom they know and who they trust and it is sad to know that the persons that are supposed to be protecting the children are the ones who hurt the children.”

Azille-Lewis described the child abuse situation in Dominica as 'sad'
Azille-Lewis described the child abuse situation in Dominica as ‘sad’

She noted that incest, physical abuse, and emotional abuse are worrying trends.

“We have a problem in Dominica where we see incest continues to be an issue where persons who are related to children violate them sexually,” she revealed. “We have the problem with physical abuse where often times children are left being black, blue, bruised, with broken bones and in all different ways with burns and bites and this is often seen as discipline. We have children that are being emotionally abused, bullied and these hardly gets reported because a lot of the times it is seen as something that is normal in our society.”

She said there is an issue where young boys are being sexually violated “and creating the issue of homosexuality especially with our young boys under the age of 13.”

Azille-Lewis pointed to the problem of young girls being exploited by adult men.

“We have our young girls who are continuously being violated by adult men, persons who take advantage of our children,” she stated. “We have them, sometimes they are the mothers, the mothers’ partners, the mothers’ boyfriends, stepfathers … they are not biologically the fathers of the children so they feel that they are not doing anything for free and hence take advantage of our children.”

She called on all in society to denounce violence against children.

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32 Comments

  1. Deleoncourt
    November 25, 2015

    Smmething has to be done every child must grow up feeling safe and happy . But in what world does raping a child makes them more inclined to be a homosexual? Homosexual does not = child molestor same as heterosexual men are not automatically child molestors. child molestors are child molestors

    • November 29, 2015

      Not only one, but several different studies have shown that a homosexual man is three times as likely to molest a child as a heterosexual man.

      Many homosexual men were molested by a homosexual man when they were children or teenagers. A child or young person who is sexually molested is more apt to become a homosexual.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

  2. November 24, 2015

    Somebody wake up please help Dominican children ah Bon Dieu . These poor innocent children with these phedophiles incestious wicked evil bas……. I wish I could save these children God will cover them with his blood. Parents open your eyes parent your children properly. Do nof leave them with adult males.
    I am serious they are heartless big men who take advantage?
    I am begining to dislike these big belly Dominican men, and maybe the Island to

    • November 25, 2015

      Popam:

      It is easy to dislike bad men. However, not all the men in Dominica are like this, and certainly we can not judge a man by his appearance.

      Why are these bad characters the way they are :?:

      Some were raised by ungodly parents in homes were there was alcohol, drugs, fighting, and immorality.
      Some had little or no education. Some fell victim to alcohol or drugs. Some were themselves sexually abused as children.

      In many cases it is a combination of these things. Sadly, these are the men from the other side of life.

      Yes, when they break the law they should face justice. They should be punished for the wrong they do. But they should also be given the gospel and loved into the Kingdom of God! All these earlier hurts can be healed and disadvantages can be overcome by the grace of God. The garbage of their lives can be turned into gold!

      Please read: 1 John 1:7 and 2 Corinthians 5:17.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill, Evangelist.

  3. my head on
    November 24, 2015

    there we go every year TALK AND MORE TALK WHAT A SWEET JOKE PLACE TO LIVE WE GONE !

  4. cameron
    November 24, 2015

    Dominica is doomed,a country with no leadership,what else can one expect.

    • udorite
      November 24, 2015

      Leaders key kar fer say envhyole lar fer sar??? Zor par las di coshuny!! Stupes

    • November 25, 2015

      Dominica is not doomed! God still has a people in Dominica! They are the salt of the earth and the light of the world :!:

      What is needed to turn things around is a Holy Ghost revival from heaven! Let believers seek the face of God in prayer until He rents the heavens and comes down, and rains righteousness upon you.

      Let born again pastors commit themselves to a no compromise position, preaching the gospel and Bible holiness.

      Let them dare to invite anointed evangelists to their pulpits who have a proven deliverance ministry with signs following. Pastors need to recognize such and appreciate their place in the Body of Christ.

      Individual Christians in the pews need to realize their importance as kings and priests unto God according to Revelation 1:6, and begin speaking out for righteousness. They must take the gospel outside the sanctuary into the streets and market places and return bringing the sheaves with them.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  5. November 24, 2015

    Why isn’t more of our prominent Citizens and Political Leaders speaking out about this most troubling issue? Our Leaders and Prominent Citizens are consumed with politics and power. They are far more concerned with receiving money than they are about our little boys and girls being scarred for life. Then, at the same time, it is also very frustrating to deal with an issue that is being kept secret in so many homes and communities. The only time any attention is given to this issue in public is when a few of the MANY cases reaches to the Court. Most of the time we hardly hear of the arrest or the details until the matter is adjudicated in a Court of Law. Parents who allow their underage daughters to have relations with older men for money; Parents who take money from the very pedophiles who abuse their children and remain silent are hardly, if ever, heard about or mentioned. The truth is that we live in a twisted society where so much atrocities are being secretly condoned.

  6. Disgusted
    November 24, 2015

    sad we need to protect the children

  7. November 24, 2015

    Here is Canada there is a commercial on T.V. at this time of the year that asks the question …

    So its Christmas and what have you done :?:

    It might be time to ask your government…

    So child abuse is in the news again and what have you done :?:

    Does Dominica have a law that requires the mandatory reporting of any incident of sexual child abuse :?:

    Do you have a program that registers convicted sex offenders :?:

    Is there an online registry of sex offenders with the name, picture, date of birth, charge, sentence, and current address of each person who is convicted of a sex crime :?:

    Is there a program in the schools (beginning at a young age) that would proof the kids against molestation, and teach them how to go about reporting an incident :?:

    Is there one trusted and trained person in each school the children know they can talk to if they have a problem :?:

    So let all the people now ask…

    WHAT HAVE YOU DONE :?:

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill…

  8. surprised
    November 24, 2015

    I am a bit surprise at how low the volume of comments are on this subject!!!!! I am a Dominican who resides abroad,and it sadens my heart to read such an article.Children are our future people,and this act of violence towards inoccent children must be irradiated immediately. If you see something say something! Mothers stop protecting your boyfriends.
    We are our bothers keeper!!!!!

  9. dady b
    November 24, 2015

    The law is to slak 50 and 70 yearsyou give man for that i am leaving in the us and man geting life tme for that we taking evety thinig in dominica for game come on man the law have to get real so that man can stop if a man will do that to child i will come back to da kill him and move out yes de people in de law must have bean doing de same dam thing i think so the man them at de court thuking little boy de police thuking little boy and girls think of it man taking life time in de us becouse they know what it is to hert a child da poeple take that for s game do somthing about it

  10. Jaime Lewis
    November 24, 2015

    With all due respect, “sad” does not do any justice to describe this situation of child abuse in Dominica. This is abominable, intolerable, shameful, a disgrace, and a poor reflection on our entire society. Who will be the voice for the voiceless? Who will stand up for the weak and vulnerable? We as adults must stand up. I am so sick and tired of these articles describing the situation as sad. It is not sad. It is despicable, and we should all be ashamed of ourselves that we are doing nothing about it. Every few weeks we read these articles and keep on living our lives without any regard for these children who are living with this trauma of child abuse. A few voices like Mr. Weekes and Delia Cuffy crying in the wilderness will not solve the problem. Until and unless there is public outrage, people storming the Child Welfare department, demanding government to enact policies that protect our children, things will not change. That is what is sad. Our pathetic response is SAD. SHAME!

  11. The Real Facts
    November 24, 2015

    It is time for concrete action. Parents, the primary educators must be educated about this. Some may not know how to handle this situation. Inform them that in future they may not hesitate to report child abuse to authorities.
    Some parents are themselves the abusers, emotionally and physically. They may be experiencing some sort of hardship and pass it on their children.
    School authorities must also play a part. Educate the children to report anyone who abuses them and more so sexually. Instill it in them.
    You must do something about it with stringent Law enactment. When children are abused in such a manner, they should be taken away from the home and placed in hopefully a comfortable and safe home.
    I reside in Canada and the Law is such that if it is known children are abused, the Children’s Aid will step in and remove them from the home. The perpetrators will be prosecuted.
    Children must be children and have a happy childhood. God bless them!

  12. me
    November 23, 2015

    What happens to a mother who takes cash for her silence?…The child is scarred for life and the man walks free…

    • November 29, 2015

      Yes, this happens.

      It is a sin that makes the mother as guilty as the perpetrator. It is no less a crime than regular pimping. She is making money from – or living off the avails of – prostitution because she is forcing her daughter to commit a act of prostitution even though the child is innocent of any wrong doing.

      These mothers should be in prison. The children should be taken from them at least until it can be shown that the mothers have been rehabilitated. The causes need to be looked at. It is likely poverty is a root cause. If so the broader social structure should be examine.

      Usually the mother herself has fallen into an immoral lifestyle. Fornicating with her boyfriend, and bringing him into her home as a live-in sex partner obviously places her children at risk. Yes, boys as well as girls! If she had any sense she would realize these men are not good people and cannot be trusted.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

  13. Eros-Venus
    November 23, 2015

    These comments made me strong and not sad knowing that I am not alone wanting protection for them helpless and harmless children. There are a lot of monsters out there and there are few of us. United we stand. Mothers and parents some are not worthy of this title. If Mr. LINTON SAY SOMETHING, you would have had over 200 comments already. Report anything suspicious to crime watch we cannot afford to rest on this. May the good Lord bless and protect the children and give them courage

  14. huh
    November 23, 2015

    If there was ever evidence to prove Dominica has arrived at failed-state status, it is our lack of action on child abuse.

    For years on end we’ve been hearing about this, and just listen to the final call of this article: “She called on all in society to denounce violence against children”.

    How many such calls have we heard throughout the years? Why can’t we get it, that all this talk is getting nowhere and while children are being tortured, our leaders are playing kick the can?

    All Dominicans should be ashamed. We can do so well tearing each other apart, but can’t even put heads together to save our children?!

  15. November 23, 2015

    They rush to parliament to effect legislation to protect the banks by taking poor people possession but Skerrit and his gang have no interest in legislation to protect our children.I wonder why?

    What I have notice is that those who are responsible are more focused on keeping their own sexual misconduct under wraps and by doing so legislation to protect our children get entangled in their protective wrap. Who getting young school girls pregnant and sending them overseas; who have children with young girls here and there; who promising g scholarship for kool pipe; who promising the latest smartphone just to play the minister trumbone. All you oy leave me alone you hear

  16. Shaka Zulu
    November 23, 2015

    If the law not protecting citizens, citizens need to start taking law in their own hands. This is an epidemic. Silence is consent and the reason why it is not a big deal is because many are guilty and are either victims or offenders. It is a cycle. Parents have to watch out for both boys and girls. I have little kids and someone better not make that mistake. Worst if is friend or family. I will be the executioner forget the law and police cause they are useless. Destruction of one kid life has exponential effect on our society far less for 170 plus another 157. Beyond freaking ridiculous.

  17. concerned
    November 23, 2015

    The culture is in a state of emergency and there are not enough leaders speaking out and fighting this cause to reduce and iradicate this trend. Who is out there speaking deeply in to the impact this has on the development of the country. People need to understand the long term damage this is causing in all aspects of Dominican society.

  18. concerned
    November 23, 2015

    The culture is in a state of emergency and there are no leaders fighting this cause to reduce and iradicate this trend. No one speaks to the impact this has on the development of the country. People need to understand the long term damage this is causing in all aspects of Dominican society.

  19. Concerned
    November 23, 2015

    I pray to God about this everyday, as I was abused sexually as a child. I have grown up to be a responsible adult and my abuser was forgiven by me and has never asked for my forgiveness. However, the justice system is just too relaxed on this situation. I pray this never happens to my daughters, but if it does, God forbids, I will not be so forgiving towards the abuser. It took a lot of prayers and internal struggle to let go of the pain, shame and humiliation of sexual abuse. Soon, Dominicans, we will have to set our own legal standards. Cut their…………..

  20. nicole
    November 23, 2015

    Again I will say, the first line of defense is the PARENTS. Parents have to realize that when they decide to have children there is a HUGE responsibility that they have towards these children…one ofwhich is PROTECTION.

    Its time to start prosecuting parents along with the abusers themselves. Time to make parents accountable for the neglect or downright selling of their children…When parents leave their kids with untrustworthy people or allow questionable people into their lives or actually allow people to abuse their kids for material gain they NEED to go to JAIL for a LONG TIME. These kinds of parents are as guilty as the abusers.

    Future parents if you cannot deal with the responsibility it takes to raise a child DONT HAVE THEM!

    Additionally we need harsher penalties for abusers, including CASTRATION. When you put people in a comfortable prison to eat free food and spend taxpayers money, is this real punishment? I think not.

    • 2 oj wife
      November 23, 2015

      nicole :twisted: ….just who the hell do you think you are…..castration?…..you are worse than the people whose balls you want to cut…..sacway sot.

      • December 1, 2015

        You do nothing and then you wonder why nothing is done :!:

        It is because nothing else is working people want these perverts castrated. Eventually if the government does not do something that works you are going to see a rash of home spun frontier justice that will make these sickos :twisted: think twice before they violate a child.

        Eventually the people will rise up and say enough is enough!

        Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill, Evangelist.

    • :/
      November 23, 2015

      could not have said it n e better

    • November 24, 2015

      Nicole:

      This is an excellent comment. It probably reflects the thinking of most DNO readers.

      Sadly, many parents are not protecting their children.

      When a mother has a live-in boyfriend what would make her think he would not sexually assault her daughter if given an opportunity :?: She KNOWS he is not a good man otherwise he would not be there. By placing herself in bad company and creating an immoral atmosphere in her home she is putting any family she has at risk. If she having a sexual relationship with a man who is not her husband who has contact with her family she is putting the children at frisk even if he is not a live-in.

      Parents should be aware of any adult who takes an undue interest in a child. Do not allow your son or daughter to be alone with an older personal you do not know and trust.

      Castration is severe. But when it becomes obvious nothing else is working it may be the only answer. Dominica may be there now.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill…

      • November 24, 2015

        :oops: Sorry!

        Third paragraph. That should be at risk not at frisk. No pun was intended.

        Sincerely, Rev. Don Hill

  21. Christ like
    November 23, 2015

    boiii hmm no wonder it have so much wild children yh..

    • November 24, 2015

      Some children are unruly and immodest. This is usually the fault of their parents.

      However, a child is NEVER to blame for being sexually assaulted. If an adult is close enough to a child to molest her or him that adult is 100% responsible for any harm he or she does.

      The responsibility to protect children begins at the top.

      Governments. Legislators, Police, etc.

      Parents.

      Schools. (Teachers)

      People involved in programs for kids such as Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, etc.

      Church. (Pastors and Religious workers.)

      Children under the age of consent are not legally responsible due to the fact that they are not considered mature enough to be knowledgeable or capable of making informed decisions, or protecting themselves
      in untoward circumstances.

      NEVER blame the child. They are meant to be loved and protected.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill, Evangelist.

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