Office of Ombudsperson for Children calls for unified action to protect child victims

GIS – 18 March 2026: A panel discussion focusing on the theme ‘Safeguarding the Rights of Child Victims of Sexual Abuse: Strengthening the Chain of Protection’, organised by the Office of Ombudsperson for Children, opened this morning in Quatre-Bornes. In her address, the Ombudsperson for Children, Mrs Aneeta Ghoorah, recalled that every child has to grow in dignity, within a safe environment free from violence and exploitation. According to her, sexual abuse of children constitutes one of the most serious violations of a child's rights and dignity, which she emphasised, leaves deep and lasting wounds affecting his physical and emotional well-being, development, sense of security, and trust in the society. She underpinned the key role of institutions intervening in such cases and their responsibility in protecting and supporting the victims. “We should all have a collective engagement and passion to protect children who are victims of abuse and surround them with a supportive environment whereby they feel safe to talk and ask for help”, she stated. Moreover, Mrs Aneeta Ghoorah highlighted the need for a strong chain of protection for these victims so that they benefit from help assistance throughout the whole process to justice. To strengthen the chain of protection, she pointed out, enhancing coordination, communication and trust among institutions are crucial. Clearer procedures, adapted approaches to children, adequate professional training and services and support mechanisms that enable prompt and effective responses are equally important, she added. She thus qualified the panel discussion as an opportune meeting for the concerned institutions to share their knowledge, experience, expertise, identity challenges and chart the way forward for a more coordinated and collective approach.

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Topics: Justice