Silent witnesses to child abuse could be jailed – new Barbados law

Jamaica Observer
June 23, 2014

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Silent-witnesses-to-child-abuse-could-be-jailed---new-Barbados-law

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) -- Persons who may be aware of instances of child abuse, but do not inform the authorities, could be brought before the courts and face possible jail according to a looming law.

Child Care Board Director, Joan Crawford, says Cabinet is about to consider a proposal making it mandatory for school principals, church leaders, social workers, court officials, and media workers, among others to report knowledge of child abuse.

"There are no ifs or buts. It will be that you ... are bound to report," she said Thursday. "The only exception there is that lawyer-client privilege, but all others are not considered that way."

Further explaining the proposal before the Cabinet she said, "Failure to report a suspected case should carry a sanction in the form of a fine, with the alternative of imprisonment".

Crawford's revelation came during a symposium on student sexual abuse, where UNICEF Representative, Knu-Sandi Lwin, suggested that education officials and others involved in the delivery of education can be blamed for not disclosing all information on probable cases of child abuse.

"All of us, in one way or another, have been sinning, the sins of omission," she said.