Human Development C.E.O. Concerned About Sexual Assault of Minors

Tanya Santos-Neal

Over the past two weeks, there have been multiple reports of minors being victims of sexual assault and rape, some by people they know or from within their household. Earlier today, News Five had the opportunity to speak with C.E.O. Tanya Santos-Neal from the Ministry of Human Development about the increasing number of reported cases. While she says that the reports indicate that victims are coming forward, there are many more that are unreported.

Tanya Santos-Neal, C.E.O., Ministry of Human Development

“What I believe is happening is that people are feeling more comfortable to come out and report these cases of abuse. Sadly, I believe it is very common. I almost want to think it is a cultural thing; that people feel it is okay to do that to a child. It is not. Leave the children alone; it is a crime. And there is no way that a government, a ministry can tackle that. It is not the police that will handle that, it is not the ministry of human development and social that will stop that. It starts in the home. It is wrong, do not do it, do not touch the children. We are here to protect our children, to nurture them to be productive citizens.  It’s so commonplace I believe. We get much more reports than you see on the media and we deal with them, we address them quietly we do our work. But in truth and honesty, we can’t keep up. So it is a situation where the community on a hold has to get more involved. We have to go back to this concept of family, building strong family, with strong values and strong ethics to make sure that we understand that these things are wrong. And when you see it, do something about it. If you know it, do something about it. If you hear it might be happening, address it.”