Government says the Children and Family Bill will be tabled in the National Assembly this year to boost its efforts to protect vulnerable groups from abuse.

A press release from the Government Information Agency said government has begun implementing a range of initiatives in direct support of these groups including completing regulations on the National Task Force on Domestic Violence to strengthen prosecution under the Domestic Violence Act, Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh said in his maiden budget presentation on Friday. Children in vulnerable situations will be targeted for special attention and plans are in train to establish a Child Protection Agency. Other focus areas include developing foster care programmes and regulations and standards for the proper care of children in institutions. To complement these efforts, the Women’s Affairs Bureau will focus on strengthening the various committees and groups through public education sessions, distribution of pertinent literature, workshops and seminars.

A Child Protection Monitoring Database within the Ministry of Human Services has already been established and several campaigns, including the Growing up without Violence project, have been launched.