Obie comment was ‘disingenuous’; govt taking too long on GBV Bill CHILD ABUSE C ASES UP OVER 50 PERCENT

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Physical abuse accounted for 43 of the reported abuse cases this year.

There were also 30 reports of neglect, 13 of educational neglect, three of self-mutilation, and four of suicidal ideation.

There was one report of rape and one report of inappropriate sexual behaviour.

From January to December 2022, 391 cases of abuse were reported.

The statistics were disclosed to reporters during a press conference highlighting Child Protection Month in April last month.

Deputy Director of the Department of Social Services Charlamae Fernander said abuse is often committed by people well known to children.

“We have found that very often children endure behaviour because it’s coming from or perpetrated by persons they are supposed to love and trust in their homes (and) in their environments,” she said.

“And (they) come to believe that such treatment is normal so to speak, when it is not. So it is our duty — (not only) department of social services or our ministry — but every adult throughout this nation how their duty to advise children otherwise what is right, what is wrong, what is acceptable, what is not.”

“Because if we ruin the young people of today — we have nothing to look forward to. It is in everybody’s best interest to make sure that we teach our children how they should be cared for.”

Terneille Burrows, president of Rise Bahamas, said yesterday the increase in child abuse reports shows people are being encouraged to speak up.

“An increase in reporting hopefully indicates that the emergency hotline that the Bahamas Crisis Centre operates is being more widely utilized,” she said.

“Among the list of people recently charged with sex crimes against children are a former senator and officer of the armed forces. It is increasingly coming to light that perpetrators of crimes against children are sometimes people in positions of power.

“Scores of Bahamians took to social media to express disgust in response to such cases, but we need strengthened laws and more widespread public outcry to ensure that the prevention of crimes against children becomes a national priority.”

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

AN advocate of women’s rights said the Davis administration is taking too long to pass the Gender Violence

Bill.

Prodesta Moore, president and founder of Women United, said she was surprised by Social Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe’s suggestion that consultation with the Church is needed before the bill is brought to the House of Assembly.

On Monday, Mr Wilchcombe told The Tribune the government would not rush the bill to Parliament.

His comment came several days after former Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson urged the government to pass the bill, which she said was first drafted ten years ago.

“This bill is so important, and with all the recent acts of violence that’s happening among our young women and women in general, for him to make that statement was disingenuous to all of us as women because of the work we’ve put into this, the effort we’ve put into making sure this bill is a priority,” Ms Moore said yesterday.

“I totally agree that it’s taking too long and is being delayed for whatever reason, and to say that it’s being delayed because of consultation (with the Church) is not correct because this bill has been presented. I honestly don’t know why he’s making those comments when he knows that women organisations, Women’s United and other women-led NGOs, have been pushing for this bill to be tabled.”

After the boyfriend of Heavenly Terveus killed her last year, days after she reported him to police for damaging her car, State Minister for Social Services Lisa

Rahming said the bill would be tabled in Parliament “in a few weeks or a few months”. That did not happen.

Ms Moore said she’s frequently discussed the bill with the Minister of Social Services and has been assured it would be tabled shortly.

“Every time I have an opportunity to see Minister Wilchcombe, I would always ask him when is the bill going to be presented. They keep promising that the bill is going to be presented shortly. I don’t understand why now a comment is going to be made as to say the reason it’s being delayed is consultation.

“I don’t know if he made a mistake … and was trying to reference the marital rape bill and not the gender violence bill. Those are two separate bills that we’re talking about. The amendments to the Sexual Offences Act is going to address the marital