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Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Keeping our children safe

According to a recent report published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with UNICEF, UNESCO, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General on Violence against Children and the End Violence Partnership, half of the world’s children, or approximately one billion children each year are affected by physical, sexual or psychological violence, suffering injuries, disabilities and death, because countries have failed to follow established strategies to protect them.

The report – “Global Status Report on Preventing Violence Against Children 2020” – is the first of its kind, charting progress in 155 countries against the “INSPIRE” framework, a set of seven strategies for preventing and responding to violence against children.

The report signals a clear need in all countries, including Guyana, to scale up efforts to implement these strategies. While 88 per cent of the countries surveyed have key laws in place to protect children against violence, less than half of countries (47 per cent) said these were being strongly enforced. It is, therefore, clear that having the policy framework in place is not enough, there is a serious challenge as it relates to implementation.

The data for the report was compiled through a survey administered between 2018 and 2019 with responses from over 1000 decision-makers from 155 countries. The INSPIRE strategies, launched in 2016, call for the implementation and enforcement of laws; changing norms and values to make violence unacceptable; creating safe physical environments for children; providing support to parents and caregivers; strengthening income and economic security and stability; improving response and support services for victims; and providing children with education and life skills.

The report also includes the first-ever global homicide estimates specifically for children under 18 years of age – previous estimates were based on data that included 18 to 19 year olds. It finds that in 2017, around 40,000 children were victims of homicide.

Of the INSPIRE strategies, only access to schools through enrolment showed the most progress, with 54 per cent of countries reporting that a sufficient number of children in need were being reached in this way. Between 32 per cent and 37 per cent of countries considered that victims of violence could access support services while 26 per cent of countries provided programmes on parent and caregiver support; 21 per cent of countries had programmes to change harmful norms; and 15 per cent of countries had modifications to provide safe physical environments for children.

Although a majority of countries (83 per cent) have national data on violence against children, only 21 per cent used these to set baselines and national targets to prevent and respond to violence against children.

According to the report’s findings, about 80 per cent of countries have national plans of action and policies, but only onefifth have plans that are fully funded or have measurable targets. A lack of funding combined with inadequate professional capacity are likely contributing factors and a reason why implementation has been slow.

The report also noted that stay-at-home measures, including school closures, have limited the usual sources of support for families and individuals such as friends, extended family, or professionals. This further erodes victims’ ability to successfully cope with crises and the new routines of daily life. Spikes in calls to helplines for child abuse and intimate partner violence have been observed.

And while online communities have become central to maintain many children’s learning, support and play, an increase in harmful online behaviours including cyberbullying, risky online behaviour and sexual exploitation has been identified.

WHO has underlined the need for global action to ensure that the necessary financial and technical support is available to all countries. It notes also that monitoring and evaluation are crucial to determine the extent to which these prevention efforts are effectively delivered to all who need them.

Dr Howard Taylor, a representative of End Violence Partnership, puts it this way: “Ending violence against children is the right thing to do, a smart investment to make, and it’s possible…We can and must create a world where every child can thrive free from violence and become a new generation of adults to experience healthy and prosperous lives.”

Like WHO and other partners, we believe that it is time to fully fund comprehensive national action plans that will keep children safe at home, at school, online and in their communities.

After 3 strikes, Lowenfield must be given out

Dear Editor,

It would appear that GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield either has a charmed life or a “godfather” in high places. Whatever the reason, over the past threeplus months, it has not mattered how many egregious and deliberate spanners he has thrown into the carefully integrated machinery of GECOM, he still remains poised to continue in the same vein, following the decision of the CCJ later this week. This will not do.

In the first instance, after his RO Clairmont Mingo confabulated Reg Four SoPs, even as there was a resort to the courts citing Mingo for contempt in not following the clear instructions of the High Court, Lowenfield yet used the concocted figures to create the report he submitted to the Commission, showing APNU/AFC as the winner and which the Chair held in “abeyance”, without explicitly rejecting it and censuring Lowenfield.

The second Lowenfield infraction came after the recount when he arbitrarily awarded himself the powers of an elections court to evaluate the “irregularities” APNU/AFC had wildly thrown up during the recount process and in preparing his report disqualified 275,000 persons. This report, which again showed the APNU/AFC winning, was not accepted by the Commission and he was told to utilise the figures from the Certificates of Recount. He was not penalised for his gross overreach.

The third infraction came after the Court of Appeal ordered a three-day stay on all GECOM proceedings following a petition to prevent a declaration and ruled that only “valid votes” must be counted. This, as a matter of fact, was what the recount process had produced.

Lowenfield, however, took it upon himself to announce (incorrectly) that he was a constitutional officer and had been given the authority by the COA to prepare his report of “valid and credible” votes. This he did and disqualified 115,000 voters this time to give APNU/ AFC a win once again. And once again, he was not disciplined nor cited by the Commission or Chair.

The CCJ is about to rule on the status of the votes coming out of the recount. It is beyond belief that the Commission and the Chair of GECOM will use Lowenfield as the person to effectuate the apex court’s ruling.

The Chair must move expeditiously to declare that after three strikes, Lowenfield is out.

Sincerely, David Ingram

Only one truth about 2020 elections: PPP/C is the winner

Dear Editor, GECOM and all the political Government. The Chair of match for the “mother of all

Where else in this world parties, except the APNU/ Senate Foreign Relations rigging” perpetrated by his will elections that cover AFC. The recount process Committee Marco Rubio boss, the GECOM’s Chief less than ½ million voters was deemed credible and stated: ”We share in the Elections Officer, Keith take more than 120 days transparent. The report frustration expressed by Lowenfield. to have a final declaration by the Caricom high-levthe Caribbean Community, In Lowenfield’s June 13 being made of the winner? el Mission was accepted as the OAS, and other interObservation Report, he gave Where else in the world credible by all the political national stakeholders, and the APNU/AFC a massive will these elections produce parties (except the APNU/ call upon the Guyana aulead of 68,383 votes over the 6 different results (origiAFC), the observer teams thorities to issue an official PPP/C, and in the process nal figures based on SoPs, of AmCham, European elections declaration that disenfranchised 275,092 or Mingo’s figures of March 5, Union, the Organisation of reflects the results of the 60 per cent of voters (92,910 Mingo’s figures of March 13, American States, and othMarch 2nd elections which were APNU/AFC voters, recount figures of June 8, ers. Since the report was were confirmed in the offi176,709 were PPP/C voters, Lowenfield figures of June publicised, several other nacial recount by the Caricom’s and 5473 were other par13 and Lowenfield figures tional and international orobservation team.” ties’ voters). of June 23)? Where else in ganisations as well as the Of note, there is a post In Lowenfield’s report this world will a de facto western diplomatic comon FB attributed to PNCR’s of June 23 to the GECOM Government fail to concede munity have embraced the James Bond that indicates Chair, he performed andefeat and step down, deCaricom report and indicate that the APNU/AFC lost other mathematical somspite all the pressures exthat it constitutes the basis more votes than the PPP/C ersault. But the APNU/ erted by local stakeholders for a declaration of the elecas a result of Lowenfield’s AFC lead this time was and the international comtions’ results. The PPP/C hatchet job. Apart from reduced to 5482 votes. munity? won the elections by 15,416 the fact that the APNU/ Notwithstanding that

Where else in the world votes. AFC has stopped shouthe still disenfranchised will a Government advance With the release of ing that “every vote must 115,844 or 25 per cent of an astonishing defence in the Caricom report, there count” and has not rebelled voters (46,095 were APNU/ support of open fraud perhas been a concerted camover Lowenfield’s disenAFC voters, 66,993 were petrated by its operatives at paign by elements within franchisement of thousands PPP/C voters, and 2756 the Elections Commission the APNU/AFC to tarnish of their voters, they have were other parties’ votSecretariat? Where else the authenticity of the removed to intensify their ers). Lowenfield’s statistiin the world will a counport and to attack the Chair misinformation and propacal gymnastics has created try be regarded as a pariof Caricom as well as seganda campaign and claima tremendous assault upon ah state? And where else nior diplomats who stand ing victory that they know decent Guyanese dignity in the world will a governup in defence of democracy. is contrived. They fill soand intelligence! ing party launch a vitriolBarbados Prime Minister cial and other media outlets I hope that the Guyanese ic campaign against westand Caricom Chair, Mia with fake news. The APNU/ people are smart enough ern Governments, Caricom, Mottley dismisses easily AFC has learnt, as part of not to accept this level of and others? Where else but those allegations; “the truth their culture of “lies, decepLowenfield’s naked, brutal Guyana! hurts.” David Granger said tion, venality and rigging,” and vicious fraud. Should

Since the recount figures publicly prior to the recount that if they push forth a lie they allow this to happen, (SoRs) have replaced the that Caricom was the most continuously, it will take on the negative message would original figures (based on legitimate “interlocutor” to the life of a truth. They exbe stinging upon the beSoPs), comparisons will be oversee the recount process, cel at this craft. haviour of the younger genmade with the recount figagainst the background that Clairmont Mingo of eration in particular. “When ures. The SoRs (recount) fighe debarred The Carter Ashmins notoriety, had you can’t get something the ures were 3374 votes more Center from observing the produced fictitious figures legal way, it’s okay to get it than the SoPs (an increase recount. Speaking in the dein his March 5 declaration through the illegal way via of 0.7 per cent that works fense of democracy is not inthat allowed the APNU/ fraud, deception or lies.” out to an average of 1.44 terference. Rather it’s good AFC 7692 more votes naThis is a dangerous precvotes per Polling Station). diplomacy. tionally than the PPP/C. edent not only for Guyana The main reason for the inThe US Senate, the In his second declaration but also for Caricom and crease was that some of the Organisation of American of March 13, his fraudulent the Commonwealth. There rejected/discarded votes States (OAS), Mandela’s figures allowed APNU/AFC is only one truth about the were re-classified as valid Elders’ Group, among otha lead of 7389 votes nation2020 elections results: that and added to the valid votes ers, including the local ally over the PPP/C. But if is, the PPP/C is the winner, count. This difference, howPrivate Sector Commission anyone thinks that those and with a victory margin of ever, is statistically insig(PSC) have called upon figures represent an orches15,416 valid votes. nificant. the Granger regime to contrated and transparent rig

The data of the recede defeat and make way ging of an unprecedented Sincerely, count were duly certified by for a transition to the new scale, then this would be no Dr Tara Singh