The Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation has held the first in what is expected to become a series of town hall meetings aimed at confronting child abuse and strengthening the systems responsible for protecting children across Antigua and Barbuda.

The inaugural National Child Protection Town Hall Meeting was held Tuesday evening at the John E. St. Luce Finance and Conference Centre.

The event was organized through the Ministry’s Family and Social Services Division, in collaboration with representatives from law enforcement, education, healthcare, social work and the justice system.

Minister of Social and Urban Transformation Rawdon Turner said the gathering was intended to begin an open and honest national conversation about the abuse, neglect and exploitation of children.

The panel included Director of Family and Social Services and clinical psychologist Feona Charles-Richards; licensed master social worker Koren Norton; Assistant Commissioner of Police and Head of the Criminal Investigations Department Lisborn Michael; Principal of Ottos Comprehensive School Forster Roberts; Social Services Manager at SLBMC Dr Sequoyah Survia and attorney and former Chief Magistrate Maureen Payne-Hyman.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation Kiz Johnson also attended and delivered the closing remarks. Senator Angelica O’Donoghue served as moderator.

The meeting featured candid presentations from the panellists, questions and recommendations from members of the public and emotional testimonies from two survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Discussions focused on failures within the child-protection system, delays in police investigations and court proceedings, the responsibilities of parents, the need for more resources and the lasting psychological and financial effects of abuse on survivors.

Charles-Richards disclosed that the Family and Social Services Division has handled 287 child-protection cases so far this year, including more than 30 sexual-assault matters.

Turner said the meeting was never intended to be a one-off event. He announced that smaller town halls will be organized in communities across Antigua and Barbuda to reach residents in more intimate settings.

“This was never intended to be a one-off town hall,” Turner said. “What we wanted to do was to start the discussion and then move into various communities for smaller, more intimate town halls.”

The minister said protecting children cannot be left entirely to the Government, police, schools or social workers.

“It must start in the home,” he said, urging parents to listen to their children, recognize warning signs and report suspected abuse.

Johnson said the success of the town hall should ultimately be measured by what happens after the discussion.

“There must be a chain of protection around every child, and every link in that chain must work,” she said.