1,800 child sex abuse reports logged in 21 months

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In just 21 months, almost 1,800 reports of child sexual abuse were made to the Child Protection Unit (CPU) of the T&T Police Service.

This figure represents 925 reports made in 2020 and 797 reports made between January 1 and September 31, 2021.

However, from those numbers, 142 people were arrested with 377 charges being laid in 2020 and 166 people were arrested and 407 charges have so far been laid in 2021.

Guardian Media Limited spoke to Senior Superintendent Claire Guy-Alleyne, who currently sits as the head of the CPU, for a breakdown of the statistics and some insight into the work of the unit. She said in 2020, there was a marked increase in reports of child sexual abuse but her officers are working that much harder to bring the abusers to account.

“Sexual penetration is one of the most prevalent offences and in most of the cases, the victim knows the perpetrator,” Guy-Alleyne said.

“We have had a decrease in reports when we compare the statistics from last year to this year. However, when we compare the arrests that were made for 2020 to 2021, we have an increase in the arrests.”

She said that increase comes because her unit is on a drive to ensure justice is served.

But her colleagues can often face many issues in their fight for justice. Guy-Alleyne said the law mandates that parents, guardians, caregivers, doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners report cases of suspected abuse. She said sometimes when parents come forward to make reports, they sometimes refuse to cooperate with the officers.

However, this is an offence under Section 31:A of the Sexual Offences Act, Guy-Alleyne said.

“That section says that where a person prevents a minor from giving a statement to the police or testifying, they have committed an offence, so we are asking caregivers and parents to make the report and also cooperate with the police during the investigation, or else they can be charged for obstructing the prosecution.”

She said there can be no timeframe placed on investigations into sexual abuse, as victims are often too traumatised to speak about their abuse.

“Some cases we are able to wrap up in two-twos and there are some cases that are so intricate and the trauma that the child would have sustained, we may have to offer the child some psycho-social support through the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the Victim and Witness Support Unit and then we are able to gather the evidence or the statement from the child because that trauma is real.”

Guy-Alleyne said based on what the unit has since its inception, she believes sex education should be part of the school curriculum.

But while the country waits for that type of in-depth education programme, she said there are many institutions that can assist parents in educating their children.

“If you as a parent feel you are not ready to have that conversation, you can seek help – from the health centre in the district where you reside, you can seek help from Family Planning, you can seek help from the TTPS, the Victim and Support Unit, Community Policing, on best practices and the best way to have that conversation with your child – don’t just sit there and tell the child your own opinion and it may not be the right thing at the time, seek help before you have that conversation with the child,” Guy-Alleyne said.

Guy-Alleyne said her mantra is “believe your child.” She said once a child speaks out about abuse, they must have the support of their parents and a report must be made.

“We are asking caregivers, parents and guardians to be very vigilant in these times and once a child comes forward to report a sexual assault, take it very seriously and believe that child and bring that child to the police so we can investigate the matter.”

She is also urging parents and guardians to supervise their children properly and always be on the alert for red flags.

“Ensure you know who your children are going with and where they are going. Be the parent you are expected to be, when you see a person is too close – suspiciously close to a child, always wants to spend time with the child, always want to buy gifts for the child for no reason, that’s a red flag, those are things you cannot ignore,” she said.

If you or someone you know is being abused, you can make a report via the TTPS’ online reporting platform, by calling 800-TIPS, 999, 555, any police station or use the TTPS app or their social media platform.

Lasting negative effects of child sexual assault

When children are sexually assaulted, especially by those closest to them, that trauma can negatively impact the rest of their lives if they don’t receive help.

And while that type of abuse is considered abhorrent, it is not new.

Clinical traumatologist and founder of the Centre for Human Development, Haniff Benjamin, says while the sexual abuse of children is considered by some as a phenomenon, it has been very prevalent over time.

“Children have been abused and battered sexually and otherwise for a long time, the difference now is we have in Trinidad and Tobago, a dedicated authority that deals specifically with child abuse (the Children’s Authority) and we have a police department that has a specialised unit that also deals specifically with crimes against children – the Child Protection Unit,” Benjamin said.

He is very familiar with the Children’s Authority, as he was once its chairman.

Benjamin believes these specialised units make it easier for officers to focus on these cases and for the public to make reports of suspected cases of abuse. He said the added aspect of being able to make the reports anonymously also helps, as some people may be fearful of reprisals for speaking out.

“I also believe that people are more educated – not where we should be of course, but I believe that we are more educated so that children themselves have an opportunity to call and to make that report.

“So it’s not like “long time,” where you bury everything in the back yard and you call that “George.” Now, children are more vocal and they are more engaged in conversations and therefore we see the reports.”

But Benjamin said while these factors encourage reporting and allow perpetrators to be brought to justice, he does not believe all cases are being reported.

“But this does not negate the fact that this has been going on. It begs the question, how many of our children have been abused and received no help and justice?” he asked.

He said it will be helpful to bridge the educational gap – so children can be aware of when they are being violated.

Benjamin said for far too long, the taboo of sex and sexuality has led to children being shamed over their developing bodies, instead of being educated about those developments.

“We need to remove that and allow children and understand that they are growing, understand their body parts are growing, we need to call their body parts by its name and stop this foolishness with all these funny names. When we make children aware of their bodies, they know that nobody can’t interfere with it.”

He agreed with Guy-Alleyne that there needs to be a comprehensive sexual education programme in schools, as many parents may not know how to approach the subject of sex education on their own. Benjamin said some parents may also have had bad sexual experiences and may view those as the norm. By passing on these warped lessons to their children, he said they may unknowingly put those children in danger.

Benjamin said T&T cannot continue to dance around the subject of sex education, as children will be curious.

“You have to remember that our children are being schooled all day, every day by the social media, by the internet, whether you like it or not, they are being taught and we are not counteracting what information they receive. So when they receive that information, it is truth to them until otherwise proven to not be true. So if we are not having the conversation because we are afraid or unable to have the conversation, then our children hold that as their gospel truth and therefore make bad decisions.”

Benjamin said a major factor in encouraging reporting of abuse is believing the victims themselves. He said too often, children are not believed when they speak out about abuse.

“We believe everything and everyone first, we question the children, not from a supportive, helpful but we question them from a punitive way that shuts up that child and push them back them down in the corner. I have had clients say to me, ‘The reason that I did not speak up after that is because I was called a liar’.”

He said by doubting the child, the perpetrator is allowed to go free and the cycle of abuse will continue.

Get therapy

But even when that abuse is brought to an end, the child needs significant care, as Benjamin said without it, the effects are damaging and long-lasting.

“We live in a society where ‘I normal’ is the order of the day because we learn to cope. However, we develop negative coping mechanisms, when a child is abused, sexually and or otherwise, that child’s mental trajectory, that child’s brain is now altered and the response of the brain is that of survival. That child’s brain is about protecting itself, the brain will then start to create scenarios where it is about fight, flight or freeze.”

He pointed out that every situation that they face will be mired by that trauma and they will be unable to have normal lives.

“That is why, later on in life, trust issues become apparent, relationship issues become apparent, even sexual deviant behaviour becomes apparent.”

Benjamin said studies have shown that a significant portion of sexual abusers was abused as children. He said behavioural issues can also arise in abused children, as they try to find ways to protect themselves from further attacks.

“We have a lot of children who are seen as ‘bad behaved’ but they are not bad behaved, they are responding to what they perceive as a threat. Sometimes you find a child saying I don’t want to go by this person, but we force them to go, they might start acting out. We might find children acting out against the opposite sex or same-sex, depending on what they are dealing with. You may find that when you are abused in early childhood, when you get to the adolescent phase, you might take on a behavioural challenge disorder because you are then trying to survive.”

He said some children even react by keeping themselves untidy and unclean, so they don’t attract the attention of abusers.

“Once you don’t deal with that trauma in a healthy and helpful way, your entire life trajectory will change.”

Benjamin said there may be those who claim to be ‘fine’ after being abused but evidence of their trauma can manifest in their adult lives as medical issues, psychological issues, relationship and intimate partner problems and behavioural issues.

He also believes the time has come for the State to “level up” to ensure children are safe. He said this can be done by instituting mandatory testing and training on child sexual abuse, prevention and reporting for those who work closely with children.

“I think it is time in legislation that we need to put it there, I will be calling the Attorney General myself on this. I think the Children’s Authority can become a qualifying body, where a programme can be developed and you have to take it in order to be a teacher, a psychologist, a social worker, in order to keep your license as a doctor – you must take this every three years and get a certificate from the State saying that you have learnt how to identify and report child sexual abuse.”

He said a similar programme is used in other parts of the world with great success. Benjamin also wants the State to widen the net for those who are mandated to report the abuse of a child.

Mental Health Advocate: It’s never victim’s fault

As a mental health advocate and a research assistant at a trauma centre, Dara Jackson has a special message for those children who have been abused or are currently being abused: it is not your fault.

Abusers often trick their victims into believing they are responsible for the abuse.

Jackson says this is completely false.

“I want you to know that you are a beautiful human being with a bright future ahead of you. What happened is unfair and not your fault in any way. Nothing you said, wore or did could ever give someone permission to touch you without consent,” Jackson said.

Jackson believes children and adolescents need to be told that they are important and their pain and trauma is valid.

“You are still a precious child of this island. There will be days when you want to scream and I know you will feel like you can’t. Get a journal and write, sing, dance, exercise and create whatever you want until you’ve found a safe place to speak and until you’re ready to speak. Your voice and your experience matters. Someone will listen to you and someone will protect you.”

She said children can reach out to the Children’s Authority, TTPS and/or the Student Support Division of their schools.

Like Benjamin, she also believes that those who are not treated after their abuse can find themselves facing a myriad of issues when they become adults. She said this can range from relationship issues, mental illnesses and even substance abuse.

“Some children will experiment with drugs, alcohol, self-harm and engage in promiscuous or sexual behaviour with other people or children. Nothing is ever wrong with sex, teenagers experiment with sex all the time – but it should be with the right education, with consent and where age-appropriate,” Jackson said.

She said while mental illnesses and addictions can be treated, no one wants to be ill.

“The outcomes of sexual abuse is intricate and unique to the individual who has experienced it. Therefore, it is important that children and adolescents feel safe to speak to someone who can help them find the necessary help from a team of psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers that way they can deal with the trauma and work towards healing so they can live a life as free from the trauma as possible,” she said.