Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation to Host National Child Protection Town Hall on August 25

The Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation will host a National Child Protection Town Hall Meeting later this month, bringing together stakeholders and members of the public for a national conversation focused on protecting children and creating safer communities across Antigua and Barbuda.

The event will be held on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the John E. St. Luce Finance and Conference Centre.

Under the message “Every Child in Every Community Deserves Safety,” the town hall is expected to provide an important platform for discussion on child protection, strengthening families and the collective responsibility of communities to safeguard the nation’s children.

The initiative comes as the Ministry continues to place greater emphasis on ensuring that children are protected and that families and communities are equipped to recognize and respond to issues affecting their safety and wellbeing.

The national conversation will also reinforce the importance of cooperation among parents, guardians, communities, government agencies and other stakeholders in creating environments where children can grow and develop free from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Minister of Social and Urban Transformation, Hon. Rawdon Turner, said the upcoming discussion is intended to reinforce the shared responsibility that exists to protect every child.

“Protecting our children cannot be the responsibility of government or the Child Protection Services alone. It requires parents, families, schools, churches, communities and every citizen to play their part. Every child, regardless of where they live or their circumstances, deserves to feel safe, protected and valued. This town hall is about listening, confronting the challenges and working together on solutions that will strengthen the systems we have in place to protect our children.”

The Ministry is encouraging members of the public to participate in the discussion, recognizing that child protection cannot be the responsibility of any single agency or institution.

The National Child Protection Town Hall Meeting forms part of the Ministry’s broader efforts to strengthen awareness and encourage greater public involvement in safeguarding children throughout Antigua and Barbuda.