Child Abuse Prevention Month – “Thriving Children and Families: Prevention & Purpose”

#TurksandCaicos, April 14, 2021 – Each year the world joins together in recognizing the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.  This year as we seek to raise awareness and consciousness in protecting and securing the welfare of all children in the TCI and around the world, we join in promoting the theme “Thriving Children and Families: Prevention with Purpose”. 

This year’s theme aptly promotes children within the context of families as the most valuable part of every family, the building blocks of society, and our hope for tomorrow.  Every day, sadly, children are abused, neglected, subjected to harsh living conditions and even lose their lives due to the shortcomings and negative influences of the society in which they live; this is an international loss.  These are unfortunate facts that have persisted for far too long BUT this can be reversed and prevented and the time for protection and securing our children is now!!! 

The Honorable Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Honorable Rachel Taylor remarked, the theme “Thriving Children and Families: Prevention with Purpose” reminds us in the Turks and Caicos Islands that within the family unit, a child’s welfare is paramount and symbiotically affects the welfare of the entire family and society at large.  Hence, a healthy family gives rise to healthy children.  The family is the first point of reference for every child and should be a safe haven full of love, peace, kindness, attention, learning, resources and opportunities to grow and thrive. As a nation, we must do all within our powers to safeguard our children from all forms of abuse and neglect by being intentional in our daily actions and behaviors ensuring that it is in the best interest of the child and the family unit which they are apart.”  

While appropriate discipline is promoted, physical, verbal, emotional and sexual abuse is NEVER warranted or acceptable.  Hence in keeping with this year’s theme we seek to create a loving environment where children can thrive and develop within loving families which seek and secure their welfare.  Abuse has NO place in such an environment hence our mission is to eliminate it by shining a light on it, reporting to the relevant authorities and seeking intervention for both the victim and the perpetrator.  This year we seek, not only to prevent child abuse, but to prevent with purpose. We seek to prevent child abuse by educating caregivers of alternative means of disciplining, loving and communicating with their children and bringing awareness to the matter of child abuse.