Rights of the Child Commission calls for more awarness and community responsibility to tackle child abuse

The Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) is calling for timely investigations into the recent deaths of two children in Guyana and an urgent review of existing child-protection measures to prevent further loss of lives.

In a statement, the Commission noted the murder of the six-year-old boy whose body was discovered in a canal in Berbice and the death of a three-year-old boy who died alongside his mother in a suspected arson.

The Commission said the incidents underscore the need for a renewed national commitment to safeguarding every child’s life, dignity and fundamental rights.

It also called for decisive action to strengthen child-protection systems and ensure that risks to children are identified and addressed before tragedies occur.

“Are we doing enough, collectively and institutionally, to prevent harm to children and ensure that their rights are effectively protected, Guyana’s responsibility to protect children extends beyond a moral imperative; it is firmly grounded in its international human rights obligations,” the Commission noted.

The Commission reminded that Guyana ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) on January 14, 1991, committing to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of every child.

The Commission also highlighted several provisions of the Convention, including Article 3, which requires the best interests of the child to be a primary consideration in decisions affecting children; Article 6, which recognises every child’s right to life, survival and development; and Article 19, which requires states to take appropriate measures to protect children from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

According to the Commission, these provisions establish a framework for action that must be reflected in effective legislation, responsive institutions, preventive interventions and accountability.

“These provisions establish a clear framework for action. Child protection must extend beyond responding to tragedy after it occurs. It requires early identification of risks, accessible reporting mechanisms, timely and coordinated interventions, professional assessment of family circumstances, and effective monitoring of children who may be vulnerable to violence, neglect or other forms of harm,” the Commission stated.

The Commission is calling for a thorough, impartial and timely investigation into both incidents, with respect for due process, the presumption of innocence and the privacy and dignity of the children and their families as well as an urgent review of child-protection prevention and response mechanisms, including the effectiveness of risk assessment, referrals, inter-agency information-sharing and follow-up where concerns about a child’s safety arise.

The Commission also calls for greater public awareness and community responsibility, encouraging citizens to report suspected child abuse, neglect or threats to a child’s safety through the appropriate channels.

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