http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=45&a=11995

Advocate Calls For More Focus On Addressing Child Abuse

By Bianca Symonette

March 20, 2007, The Bahama Journal--- In light of the recent tragedies involving two toddlers, President of Bahamian Fathers for Children Everywhere, Clever Duncombe, said Monday both the Progressive Liberal Party and Free National Movement administrations have failed to put in place legislation that would adequately address the "depressing" escalation of child abuse.
According to Mr. Duncombe, the recently passed Domestic Violence Bill and the Family and Child Protection Act passed last year, do not adequately address child abuse.

Mr. Duncombe said instead of the bills assisting in curbing child abuse, they only deal with the problem once a child has already suffered from abuse.

Over the weekend, a man and woman were arrested after a one-year-old boy was taken to a New Providence clinic in an unresponsive state, according to police, who said the toddler was subsequently transported to hospital, but was pronounced dead several hours later.

Several weeks ago, a husband and wife were arrested and charged before the courts in connection with the death of their three-year-old niece. It is alleged that the couple abused the little girl resulting in her death.

Mr. Duncombe expressed great disappointment in these recent tragedies.

"Not enough is being done to protect children in this country from various forms of child abuse. Even though we had what the government described as landmark legislation in respect to the Family and Child Protection Act and Domestic Violence Act, those bills do not really address the issues that confront children," Mr. Duncombe said.

"When you look at it a child will have to be abused first before any action is taken, and I find that really regrettable. It is not a proactive piece of legislation; it’s reactionary legislation and as a result we are going to continue to see the current trend that we have been seeing happening [with regard to] our nation’s children."

Mr. Duncombe charged that the Domestic Violence Bill in its present state is gender biased.

"Usually it is determined that the child is better off with its mother, but it is becoming apparent today that mothers are just as abusive as some fathers. Fathers need to be a part of the equation. The bill in its present state locks the fathers out," he claimed.

Mr. Duncombe expressed concern over the number of child abuse cases in the country.

"It seems as if no one is addressing these children issues and it’s a sad indictment on both parties. I am very saddened every time these things happen and I would like to do more, but as it stands today there is nothing I can do other than to try to sensitize and continue to raise the consciousness that child abuse and children suffering is a general concern of everybody," he said.

Mr. Duncombe called for a proactive social and national development plan.

"We are just getting the tail end now of many years of constant neglect by successive governments in respect of social development in our country," Mr. Duncombe said. "We concentrate on economics, but our social background is deteriorating and the question I have to ask is whose child is next before something is done?"

Bahamian Fathers for Children Everywhere will be looking at comprehensive ways to address this issue, he said.

The group is also organizing a march in an effort to raise awareness about child abuse.