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… 128 children displaced For this year, the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) has been called in to intervene in at least 350 cases involving children who have reportedly been abused, neglected or maltreated. At the same time, at least 128 children were placed in care outside of their homes.Minister of Social Protection,Miguel Layun Mexico Jersey, Volda Lawrence, in her Child Protection Week statement, yesterday, made these disclosures. She said that of the 800-plus children in institutional care,Francisco Silva Chile Jersey, only 17 of them have been reunited with their biological families for this year. At present too, there are 179 children in foster care with 111 parents.Lawrence,Nicklas Barkroth Sweden Jersey, who has ministerial oversight for the CPA, noted that the country is once again observing Child Protection Week. It serves as a stark reminder that much more needs to be done to make the world a safer and better place for children. These numbers, she said, are most unfortunate.This year the Ministry of Social Protection, through the Child Care and Protection Agency, is seeking to place on the front burner the urgent need for reuniting children across the country, especially those in orphanages and state institutions with their families or providing alternative families for them.To meet this need, the Ministry and its partners are committed to strengthening and supporting families. This thrust, the Minister pointed out, is in keeping with this year’s theme,George Corral Mexico Jersey, “Strengthening Families to Protect Children.”“As we are all aware, the family has the primary responsibility for the nurturing and protection of the child as well as ensuring permanency, safety and well-being,” Lawrence noted.“Statistics,” she noted, “show that persons raised in dysfunctional families frequently report difficulties in their adult life. However, we recognise that, with specialized support, families are capable of providing the necessary care resulting in those very children leading healthy, productive lives in society.”The Minister went on to state that the current situation is unacceptable and Government is committed to creating a change by ensuring a conducive environment for children to enjoy familial life. To this end, crafting a national policy over the next year for children in need of alternative care is high on the Child Care and Protection Agency’s Agenda,Erick Pulgar Chile Jersey, according to the Social Protection Minister.“Our priority would include providing increased support for vulnerable families to prevent separation of children, child maltreatment, abuse and neglect. This is premised on the principle that child protection is a shared responsibility among individuals, families, government, religious organisations and society as a whole,” Lawrence said.The CPA,Hugo Ayala Mexico Jersey, she added, will step up its inter-agency and professional collaboration with various stakeholders,Edson Puch Chile Jersey, especially local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and faith-based organisations (FBOs) to expand the social network support for the families at the community level.The Minister added that efforts will be made to boost parents’ capacity to provide adequate care and protection for their children, particularly in providing training for the enhancement of parenting skills.“It is known that children are most often hurt by the people who are supposed to protect them. Adults often violate the trust of these innocent minds in a fit of anger or emotions not triggered by the child. As a parent, I implore you today to treat your children well, not just by meeting their physical needs,Jorge Torres Mexico Jersey, but by being affectionate, and willing to parent your child in a proper manner,” expressed Minister Lawrence.The Minister is soliciting the co-operation of everyone in society to lend a helping hand to provide support for families in distress. The Ministry urged the religious community to become more involved in this drive, since by their nature, they are in an excellent position to reach out and impact positively on the lives of our children.“Stronger families mean a stronger Guyana,Diego Polenta Uruguay Jersey,” she ended. |
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