A Government senator says having statistics about child abuse and even passing the Children Bill 2012 alone will not effectively deal with the problem. Speaking in Tuesday's Senate debate on the bill, Lyndira Oudit said it was more important to change the psyche of citizens on the issue of child abuse.
Debate on the bill, which was presented by Gender Affairs, Youth and Child Development Minister Senator Verna St Rose-Greaves, is expected to resume at 1.30 pm tomorrow. "So the existence of laws alone, the existence of statistics alone is not enough," she said. "Above all and without compromise, we must effect a change in our psyche."
Oudit insisted the issue of child prostitution must be addressed. She also spoke of the need for a tracking system to be implemented via new legislation to help reduce the incidence of child abuse. Oudit said a "climate of strong public opinion" must be established against child abuse. She said the problem must be dealt with "in a drastic and immediate manner."