Advocates gather in fight against child abuse and neglect

Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Mary Margaret Sablan, Department of Youth Services’ Vivian Sablan, and students Izeiah Deleon Guerrero, Margarette Claveria and Razielle Sobremisana look on as Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang signs the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and Awareness Month proclamation yesterday at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe. (CHRYSTAL MARINO)

Participating agencies and community advocates packed the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center yesterday to help raise awareness and advocate against child abuse and neglect in the CNMI, as Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang signed a proclamation that designates April as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and Awareness Month.

The occasion also brought to the forefront sobering national statistics about child abuse, with 600-plus children being abused every year, with 618 cases reported in 2020. Federal data acknowledges that this number may be incomplete and likely underreported.

Apatang said, “It is our collective duty to put a stop to child abuse and neglect. It is our collective duty for justice to be served at the toughest level against offenders. No offender should get a second chance and no first defender must be allowed to walk away…when a child has suffered at his or her hand.”

Yesterday’s ceremony was attended by representatives of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, Division of Youth Services, Child Protective Services and the Department of Public Safety, the Office of the Attorney General, the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, the, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy Systems Inc., Disability Network Partners, CNMI Public School System and other community partners.

Education Commissioner Dr. Alfred Ada of the CNMI Public School Systems, who gave the welcoming remarks, encouraged the community to step out and be a child advocate.

“…Preventing abuse and neglect goes way beyond all levels of government. It takes a whole community. …Preventing child abuse is an effort that all of us must take on as one family. This means that our schools, our neighborhood, [and] our community must look after each child as if they were our own because we all have a role to play. Everyone in our community must partner together to provide a safe and nurturing environment for all our children. I challenge all of us to take action. We can do this by challenging our cultural and traditional excuses and practices. We can do this by supporting parents…and teaching them the positive ways of disciplining children We can do this by reporting any abuse to the proper authorities.”

Police detective Shannon Dela Cruz of the DPS Criminal Investigation Division said she became a police officer to be a voice for child victims. “And to be someone I wish I had when I was a victim. So I’m glad that I’m able to assist victims that have kept quiet. I get to be their voice.”

She said that when she first spoke about her sexual abuse, nothing was done. “Instead I was blamed. I ask the community to believe and support when someone is sharing their abuse, instead of protecting the perpetrator or blaming the victim. …No one should be robbed of their innocence.”

As one who has worked with and witnessed many of these heartbreaking cases, OAG Criminal Division chief Chester Hinds said the No. 1 step is to “believe them.” “When we’re talking about our children, we need to support them at home. …Even prosecuting cases without family support is very tough. Because prosecuting cases is a long process, so if a child is willing to go through this process by themselves, we have to believe where they are coming from. We have to believe the allegations. And sometimes they might be the only witness. We still have to believe them.”

The theme in the CNMI’s fight against child neglect and abuse this year is ‘Building together: Prevention in partnership.”