New child abuse cases every month in Barbados

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, December 30, 2009 - Authorities in Barbados are concerned about the news cases of child abuse being reported every month, including child prostitution.

Minister of Youth, Family and Sports, Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo, said children in the country are being abused frequently, and in many different ways.

"Every month the Child Care Board gets new cases of children who have been abused in one way or another - sexual abuse, physical abuse, children who are victims of domestic violence, emotional abuse, abandonment and neglect," she said.

"Child prostitution occurs in this country and we know child labour and pornography are also issues around the world, as well as trafficking of children. We haven't seen much of that, but we are vigilant...because we know that if it is happening across the waters that we are not shielded from it. So, we have to work to put the necessary systems in place to prevent some of these things from happening."