The Children's Authority is condemning child exploitation and is urging the public to report any activities involving the abuse and exploitation of minors.
The comments come as coordinator of the La Romaine Migrant Support Group Angie Ramnarine complained on Monday that migrant children were being used by adults to beg, solicit funds and sell items.
Over 3,000 migrant children between the ages of five to 17 are being denied a right to formal education, even though the T&T government made provisions for migrant registration in 2019, regularising 16,500 migrants in the first phase. Ramnarine said any government that registers asylum seekers and refugees must also provide educational opportunities.
Responding to questions from Guardian Media, the Authority said it is an offence to exploit a child.
"Section 5 of the Children's Act, Chapter 46.01 prohibits a person from causing or procuring a child to be in any street, premises or other place for solicitation of funds without the written permission of the Authorities. The Children’s Authority, therefore, condemns such action and encourages parents, guardians and the general public to care for and protect all children," the Authority said in a statement.
Asked what the Authority has done to stop as it relates to the exploitation of migrant children, the Authority said it continues to work with local and international partner agencies such as UNICEF, UNHCR, IOM, the Counter-Trafficking Unit, and the Child Protection Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS). The Authority said it also investigates and provides psycho-social (inclusive of therapeutic) interventions for migrant children who are brought to the Authority’s attention with child protection concerns.
"Where necessary, applications are made to the Court to receive these children into care and placement is secured for them," the Authority said.
Asked whether any direct interventions had been made, the Authority said it has made applications for migrant children to be received into care, and provided Care and Treatment Plans for these children.
"The Authority also supervises and/or monitors migrant children who have been placed with relatives to ensure that their well-being is preserved. Caseworkers from the Authority have also accompanied minors who have been repatriated to their home countries to be reunited with their families," the Authority explained.
Just as caseworkers are assigned to local children who have child protection concerns, the Authority said with the support of its partners on this issue, it also has a bi-lingual migrant caseworker who works specifically with this population.
"The work is also bolstered by a Spanish language interpreter/translator who has been assisting with the translation of relevant documentation in support of the casework. This team has also collaborated with the Authority’s Foster Care Unit to provide sensitisation sessions about foster care for the migrant population in Trinidad and Tobago, to increase placement options currently available for migrant children," the Authority said.
To report incidents of abuse or exploitation, citizens are urged to contact the Authority at 996 or 800-2014, the Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) at 800-4CTU or the Child Protection Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service at 999.
