PHILIPSBURG--A child abuse awareness campaign comprising four information sessions, called “Breaking the Silence: Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect,” is scheduled to kick off at Belvedere Community Centre on Wednesday, August 26.
“Neglect and abuse against children happens all over the world and St. Maarten is no exception,” said organisers, the National Protocol for the Reporting of Child Abuse Workgroup.
“Child safety and protection is a collective community responsibility. The information session is being presented to the general public to provide valuable information on child abuse, neglect and reporting. By attending the information session, the general public will learn about child abuse and neglect, risk factors and indicators of child abuse, and the impact of child abuse.
“Additional topics include laws on child abuse and neglect, responding to suspicion or disclosure of child abuse, common concerns when deciding to report child abuse, and the central reporting agency for child abuse for St. Maarten.”
The Workgroup includes members of the Court of Guardianship under the Ministry of Justice, Collective Prevention Services (CPS) under the Ministry of Health Care, Social Development and Labour, and Student Support Services Division and Youth Affairs Department of Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs.
Each information session runs from 6:30 to 8:30pm. In addition to the one in Belvedere on Wednesday, August 26, sessions are scheduled at University of St. Martin on September 2, at Rupert I. Maynard Youth Community Centre in St. Peters on September 9 and at John Hodge Hall Methodist Church in Cole Bay on September 16.
Organisers encourage the general public to be on time and to contact Student Support Services Division at 543-1235 and/or Department of Youth Affairs at 542-3718 for more information.
