Senior Reporter
akash.samaroo@cnc3.co.tt
Reports of child abuse to the Children’s Authority of T&T (CATT) has increased since last year prompting a clinical psychologist to call for further research into the societal factors that are contributing to this statistical surge.
Between January and October, the CATT said it received “4,444 reports of child abuse and maltreatment”. For the same period in 2022, the CATT received 3,879 reports.
This year the highest number of cases—581—were reported during October. The fewest were in July when there were 352 reports.
The CATT said the highest proportions involved instances of neglect which accounted for 33.1 per cent of reports with sexual abuse and physical abuse/violence making up 19.7 per cent and 14.3 per cent respectively. Collectively these forms of abuse account for 67.1 per cent of reports received during the period.
Clinical psychologist Sarah Subhan said the 14.6 per cent increase in child abuse reports may be because there is “more awareness of the work being done and the responsibility of CATT”.
She explained, “This may have influenced people’s willingness to report, especially since people can do so anonymously via the CATT’s hotline.
Noting the decrease in reports during the July/August school vacation period, Subhan said this did not necessarily mean that less abuse or neglect occurred.
“It may mean that children had less access to mandated reporters and others who may be more likely to report their concerns. Having access to reporting mechanisms is very important to safeguard our children,” she said.
However, the clinical psychologist believes the high prevalence of neglect calls for serious research into the societal factors affecting family systems.
“Parental factors include poor mental health history, poverty, a lack of proper parenting strategies in terms of understanding the child and knowing how to respond to them in a positive or healthy way. Together with substance abuse and violence in the home, these factors can create an unsafe environment for children,” Subhan explained.
She said this calls for further engagement with parents who are struggling to cope.
“When thinking about services and how to address these, a multi-pronged approach might be helpful with continued awareness of what abuse and neglect looks like and opportunities for parents to get support through services such as the Ministry of Social Development and National Family Services. There are programmes available but often people engage with them as a reactionary measure. Engagement of these services as a preventative measure is very important. So, creating more awareness can be very helpful,” Subhan said.
Over 200 children
removed from homes
Meanwhile, the CATT said pursuant to Sections 5(1)(e) and 22 of the Children’s Authority Act, Chapter 46.10, over the period January to October 2023 more than 200 children had to be removed from their homes. The Legal Services Unit of the Authority received 111 care orders and 126 wardship orders.
“Though in the care of the Authority, however, several of the children were not physically received into care, but rather, they were placed with a family member pursuant to the Authority’s duty under Sections 6(1)(g) and 6(2) (ca) of the Children’s Authority Act, to promote contact between the child and his/her relatives and to preserve the family Unit,” the CATT said.
Subhan said while enforcement of the laws is important, “perpetrators need to be held accountable for their actions, oftentimes children are removed and placed into care but there are no real consequences for the perpetrators of these actions.”
