Slight decline in child abuse

Bridgetown.

Child abuse in Barbados has decreased in the past  two years but stamping it out remains a priority says director of the Child Care Board, Joan Crawford.

Speaking to Trakker News on the eve of Child Month in May, Crawford said : "One case of child abuse is too much, parents and adults must be reminded of their roles and responsibilities as duty beares to provide care and to protect their children."

"So although there might have been a slight decline, the issue must still be on the front burner and all hands should be on deck to reduce the allegations even further". We are encouraging persons to desist from the behaviour of having sexual relations with children under the age of 16", she stated.

Crawford stressed that while the board worked closely with the police and Director of Public Prosecutions, it  was in the process of developing a protocol for mandatory reporting of child abuse by the public at the end of the year.