The Grenada National Coalition on the Rights of the Child (GNCRC) will later in the month launch its National Child Abuse Protocol.
It is aimed at making it mandatory for professionals in contact with children to report to the authorities any suspected cases of child abuse.

This was disclosed by Chairperson of the GNCRC and Senior Legal Counsel with the Ministry of Legal Affairs Avril Anande Trotman during a news conference on Friday.

She told reporters at the GNCRC headquarters in the National Development Foundation (NDF) building on Lucas Street that, the Protocol is being developed with the assistance of Attorney at-Law Donna Sealy-Burke.

According to Trotman, the legislation when it does take effect will makes it mandatory for people such as doctors, nurses, teachers, parents and all others coming into contact with children to report to the authorities suspected cases of abuse so that they can be investigated.

Grenada has dedicated the entire month of April as "Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month" which is being held under the theme "Promoting and Protecting Children's Rights".

It was declared open with a radio address to the nation by the wife of the Governor General, Her Excellency Lady Gloria Williams on Thursday.

Other events include radio programmes, Face to Face programmes, a church service for children, as well as a one minute silence in remembrance of children who are victims of abuse.

The GNCRC Chairperson stated that this year is a very busy time for the organisation since their goal is to implement the many projects and programmes that were in the pipeline over the years.
Trotman disclosed that besides mandatory reporting of abuse they are also pushing for the introduction of a Family Court to deal with issues affecting children.

She said their hope is for the Court to be introduced as soon as possible with certain guidelines on how it should operate. According to the GNCRC Chairperson, it must be child friendly in that the Judge on the bench as well as other court officials should be sensitive to the needs of the children whose matter they are handling.

Trotman said that the introduction of a Family Court in Grenada is part of consultation among member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) who are presently addressing the issue of Family Law Reform.

Executive member of the GNCRC Joycelyn Thompson who spoke at the news conference disclosed that the GNCRC is providing information to the public on how to identify and report on child abuse cases.

She said one way this can be done is by getting parents to listen to their children as well as sensitising and educating them as to how they can move out of abusive situations.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the GNCRC Shane Joseph believes that the organisation has achieved a lot over the past eleven years.

He said that they were able to meet some of their goals and objectives one being the publication of a Children's Diary.
Joseph described the document as "child friendly" and easy to use saying that some children have been able to identify some form of abuse by reading the publication.

He disclosed that they are presently putting a comprehensive piece of document on the Rights of the Child in place which will be launched shortly.

The GNCRC comprises 30 governmental and non governmental organisations interested in the rights of the child in the country.