Protecting our children should not be a cause for division

Barbados is an idyllic paradise for the hundreds of thousands of people who visit our shores each year. However, as picturesque as these fields and hills are, there is an underbelly of this society from which we cannot hide.On Wednesday, May 15, we celebrated and joined hands with the rest of the world to celebrate International Day of the Family.For too many young boys and girls in our society, the home, which should provide them with safety and comfort, is actually a place of torment and horror due to instances of various forms of abuse.These situations have been empirically linked to cases of youngsters running away from home or preferring the streets. Unfortunately, on the streets without protection and proper guidance, these children often face equally exploitative situations.Underaged teenagers, both boys and girls, are being lured into unwanted and illegal sexual encounters with mature adults who use their guile and worldly experience to prey on innocent and vulnerable youngsters who find it difficult to discern when they are entering dangerous situations.

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