National

Reported Child Abuse Numbers Up for 2023

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Officials from the Department of Social Services releasing the latest statistics on child abuse in New Providence.

Published

1 year ago

March 30, 2023

Marlena Leonard

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Officials from the Department of Social Services releasing the latest statistics on child abuse in New Providence.

The statistics come ahead of Child Protection Month which will be observed in April. The new stats cover the period from January to March of 2023.

For just the first three months of 2023, the department’s intake reports show 51 cases of sexual abuse, compared to the 28 cases at this time last year. And 43 cases of physical abuse compared to the 15 cases in the first quarter of 2022.

Last year, the department saw 391 child abuse cases either newly reported or reopened, almost half of those cases made up by either physical or sexual abuse.

This spike in reported numbers may be the result of the efforts to publicize the national hotlines of the Department of Social Services where people can report abuse.

Cherlamae Fernander, Deputy Director of the Department of Social Services said they will specifically be going into schools to speak with children about Child Protection Month.