Community needs to be vigilant on child abuse

Community needs to be vigilant on violence against children

Wellington, 29 July 2010. – The community has a key role to play in helping keep children safe from abuse.

UNICEF NZ National Advocacy Manager, Barbara Lambourn, says that the death of six-month-old baby Cezar Taylor as a result of violence in his home is a tragedy we are becoming all too familiar with.

“This is a reminder that Kiwi communities must be ever watchful and take action if there is any reason to be concerned about what is happening to children in their families and neighbourhoods,” says Ms Lambourn.

“The State has an obligation to make sure that laws, systems and procedures to protect children from violence and abuse are in place and properly resourced. But it takes more than government officials for children to get the care and protection they need.

“CYF workers make very difficult judgement calls about protecting children from violence every day. They need families, neighbours, colleagues, communities and professionals all to play their part as agents for child protection.

“If there is any reason at all to think that a child is at risk of harm, then it is time to be brave and speak out.

“Making information known about families believed to be at risk was not prying or gossiping or breaking confidentiality. It’s an essential strategy to protect children. What goes on in our neighbourhoods and communities is the business of every responsible adult. Clearly it is time we all took that responsibility much more seriously”.

Ms Lambourn says that if systems for child protection were reviewed and found to be inadequate or under-resourced, they should be rectified without delay.

“The Experts Forum on Child Abuse that reported to the Minister for Social Development last year concluded that abuse rarely happens in isolation from other problems in families such as drug and/or alcohol abuse, family violence, inadequate parenting knowledge and troubled lifestyles.

“Abuse is not usually the result of a single episode or the fault of a single CYF worker. It also stated that steps needed to be taken to actively foster relationships between professionals, community organisations, and families, and engender a culture of shared responsibility for children’s safety.”

ENDS