Ascension : From The Administrator - Protecting Ascension’s Children
Submitted by The Islander (Ascension Island Government) 31.01.2013 (Article Archived on 14.02.2013)

On 21 January, the Ascension Island Council approved a policy approach towards the protection of the Island’s children from sexual abuse and inappropriate sexual activity, as well as from wider dangers.

ASCENSION ISLAND GOVERNMENT

OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR

Ascension Island

South Atlantic

ASCN 1ZZ

Protecting Ascension’s Children

On 21 January, the Ascension Island Council approved a policy approach towards the protection of the Island’s children from sexual abuse and inappropriate sexual activity, as well as from wider dangers.

The policy direction set by the Island Council has the following core aims:

-          To reduce the space and scope for illegal or inappropriate activity against children to occur

-          To promote positive approaches to the protection of children from abuse

-          To enhance the Island’s ability to address individual cases of concern

-          To improve positive parenting skills

We all want the best for our children. The island has a first rate school, with dedicated teachers, staff and governors working together to deliver an education to our young. The hospital protects our children from illnesses and other medical problems. St Mary’s Church and the Catholic Grotto provide spiritual guidance. And the island’s many volunteers run positive activity related groups such as the Scouts, Ladybirds, Guides and Brownies.

But, our children face dangers too. It is these that we will start to address through the new policy. These dangers are real. Under-aged sexual activity is happening on Ascension. So is the grooming of minors. The Island’s Safeguarding Children Board and the police are working delicately to address these. We can not turn a blind eye and hope that these problems will go away. It won’t unless we start to change the environment that unintentionally allows it to happen.

The new approach will involve bringing the community together to address and change the way we care for our children on Ascension. Everyone is a stakeholder – and a positive partner. This includes the Government, Employers, Bars, Voluntary Group leaders, Teachers, Police, Doctors, JPs, Lay Advocates and so on.

Over the next few months we will start to work on the following key principles in the policy:

-          Restrict Access to All Bars by Children: We will introduce draft legislation to set a time point after which children must be excluded from bars. The Island Council has said it will consult the public and stakeholders on this. This would represent a significant change for Ascension and bring us in line with St Helena and the UK by protecting children from the related dangers and activities that arise from places where alcohol is on sale.

 Employers to Set Minimum Standards: Children are on Ascension Island because their parent’s employers have brought them here and accept a duty of care.  

-          Promoting Positive Parenting: The Government and the Safeguarding Children Board will raise awareness of positive parenting techniques and principles. We all want to be even better parents. Setting standards and reaching them is what we all want to achieve.

-          Youth Activities: Can we do more for our children? The soon-to-be-opened sports facility next to the Two Boats Club can be used by children and young adults, and by volunteer groups. Could more support be provided to volunteer groups?

-          Supporting Victims: We must support victims of sexual or other forms of abuse. This includes giving victims the confidence to come forward for help. The police, school, doctors and Government will work closely to ensure that victims are respected and their allegations are properly handled.

The Island Council has set an important standard for Ascension Island to achieve. This has not come out of the blue. The Council is concerned and wishes to reduce the number of cases of abuse occurring on Ascension.

It is now the Government’s task to implement the policy working, of course, with the Council, stakeholders and residents of Ascension to make it happen. In line with the Island Council’s direction – you will be consulted.

Colin Wells,

Administrator