The Anguilla Ministry of Health & Social Development, in partnership with Barnardo’s (a UK children’s charity) and the UK’s Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS), have developed a bespoke training programme that is taking place from 28 August to 7 September. The goal of the training is to better equip professionals working with children with the necessary skills to identify and respond to child abuse and exploitation in a coordinated and effective manner. Local professionals from the Education, Police, Health and Social Services sectors as well as non-governmental personnel will benefit from the specialized training to build professional knowledge and skills to help to prevent and to respond to child abuse and neglect.
Governor Foy visited the training session commenting:
“I am overwhelmed by the passion I have seen today from the people who work directly with children in what must be at times heartbreaking circumstances. One of my key priorities as Governor of Anguilla is to ensure that children on the island are protected and I am encouraged by what I have seen today. The development of this training was a truly co-operative effort, and I am confident it will have a lasting effect on protecting Anguilla’s children.”
Funding support for the training has been provided by the Child Safeguarding Unit (CSU) of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The CSU is working in partnership with the Overseas Territory Governments and strategic partners to build capability within child safeguarding systems, helping to promote transformative and sustainable change.
The Government of Anguilla continues to drive improvements to its child safeguarding systems. The training is an extension of the Ministry of Health & Social Development’s comprehensive approach to safeguarding the Territory’s children. The Territory’s child protection system has had a number of assessments conducted and is working to address those gaps that have been identified including working with UNICEF to develop a Child Safeguarding National Action Plan and an Interagency Child Protection Protocol. Government is also working to modernise its legislation in line with international standards and the UKG is supporting the AG’s Chambers with specialist legislation drafting.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
