Boys scouts denounce child abuse

Amid the wave of disconcerting child abuse reports, there has been one positive report. The Scout Association of Belize announced on Saturday that it will not tolerate any incidence of child abuse, specifically within the organization itself. Ava Pennill, the Director of Youth in the Ministry of Human Development, Women and Youth, says the move is one to be copied.

Ava Pennill, Director of Youth

“I think that is a very proactive move for the Scouts Association and they should be commended. They are the carers of our children and we know that it’s not… Many times people that abuse children look to those organizations, try to serve in those organizations so that they can have easy access to young children. So that by being alert and active and making a statement, they are on the lookout for any strange behavior and are on the lookout for their leaders to behave in any manner that is inappropriate and they have vouched to make a move against those people and they’re saying it publicly.”

Q: “Are any other organizations expected to follow suit?”

Ava Pennill

“I believe so. I think we need to take it to other organizations that serve young people. I think it must be seen as a very positive move that organizations are taking the approach of looking out for the young ones within them.”

The scout’s position came after the first National Leaders Forum on Child Abuse on August twenty-eighth. Thirty-six scout leaders along with representatives of the Young Women’s Christian Association and the Belize Family Life Association attended the forum facilitated by Lorna McDougal, Executive Director for the National Organization for the Prevention of Child Abuse.