Barbados – More disabled children having sex

By Caribbean Medical News Staff
There is a growing concern about an increase in experimental sexual activity among disable children in Barbados. Recent data collected shows that over 11 000 Barbadians are classified as disabled. In light of these high statistics, the Barbados Council for the Disabled is looking to boost public awareness and education about the subject matter.

Roseanne Foster-Vaughan, who is the Administrative project officer for the council, gave statistical data during a panel discussion on the sexuality of children and adolescents with developmental disabilities.
The function was hosted by the AC Graham Development Centre at the Donald Henry Auditorium of Bethel Methodist Church.

“Our children with disabilities are having sex, whether it is consensual, abusive or experimental,” said Foster-Vaughan; while disclosing that some parents, especially those of children with disabilities, did not want to accept this reality.

She also said, “Now that you have gotten past the initial shock of my words, with 85 per cent of the world’s children with disabilities in developed countries, children and adolescents with disabilities are among those whose rights are the most violated.”

Foster-Vaughan who is a veteran spokesperson for People with disabilities (PWD) also questioned if local authorities were honouring the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

She stressed that the PWDs community is facing increased occurrences of unsolved sexual abuse cases among students, with the offenders not only being strangers, but also familiar acquaintances, and even family members.

“Another fact highlighted by parents was that they were not in favour of having their children exposed to family guidance programmes, thus placing greater responsibility on the teachers to develop curricula relating to their sexuality and personal care,” concluded Foster-Vaughan.

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