WILLEMSTAD – MFK parliamentarian Maria Nita wants the Curaçao government to disclose how many cases of child abuse and sexual abuse are reported annually and, crucially, how many of those reports ultimately result in protection or assistance for the child involved.
In parliamentary questions addressed to Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare Charetti America-Francisca, Nita is seeking greater transparency about what happens after authorities receive a report of suspected child abuse.
The MP wants figures showing not only the number of reports but also how many cases are investigated, how many receive follow-up and how many ultimately lead to concrete assistance or protective measures.
Nita also wants the government to explain the chain of responsibility once suspected abuse is reported.
Among her questions are who first determines whether the child is safe, which agency investigates what happened and who is responsible for ensuring that the child subsequently receives appropriate assistance and protection.
The MP is particularly concerned about coordination between government agencies and other organizations involved in child protection.
She wants assurances that children are not simply referred from one organization to another or become “lost in the system” without receiving timely assistance.
Staffing and capacity are another issue raised in the letter. Nita is asking whether Curaçao currently has enough trained professionals to handle cases of child abuse effectively or whether personnel shortages are causing some children to wait an unacceptably long time for assistance and protection.
The parliamentarian is also calling for greater public transparency. She wants to know whether the government is prepared to regularly publish statistics on child abuse and sexual abuse while safeguarding the privacy and identities of minors.
Nita ultimately wants America-Francisca to identify concrete measures the government intends to take to prevent child abuse, detect cases earlier and ensure that children receive protection, assistance and continued support after a report is filed.
The questions also focus on one of the most difficult aspects of child protection: finding victims who never report what is happening to them.
Nita is asking the government to explain how it intends to reach children who are suffering physical or sexual abuse silently in their own homes, particularly those who do not know how to ask for help or are unable to do so.
The MP has requested that the minister provide written answers to her questions.