In the aftermath of a natural disaster, children are at risk of facing a number of negative consequences. Not only are parents less capable of providing the attention needed by…
Protecting children after a disaster
We are here to protect children
“The community, namely professionals, are key to ensuring that the Court Of Guardianship (CoG) can do our job to protect children,” says Kimberly Brown, Interim Head of the CoG. The…
Providing a sanctuary for children
“The first step is believing that you can do better. The second is not listening to others when they say you can’t,” states Jessica Richardson-Lake. As a mother, pastor, teacher…
Personal Story: who is going to believe you?
“I washed the sheets,” was the line I remember hearing when I first started to suspect that my ex-husband was sexually abusing my daughter. “I am going to kill you,”…
Children who witness domestic violence
This article was written by Edith Geurts, Augeo Foundation It’s often thought that children scarcely notice or suffer from violence between their parents. Unfortunately, this is not true. These children grow up…
Corporal punishment is illegal on Sint Maarten
On Sint Maarten most parents still believe in the proverb: “Spare the rod, spoil the child.” However, since 2013, Sint Maarten has a clear law on corporal punishment: it is…
Editorial: Children’s rights are here to stay!
The United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child (CRC) was drafted and ratified in 1989 and took effect several months later in 1990. Soraya Agard-Lake, Department Head Youth…
More support needed for early childhood development
Sophia Farrell-Hassell, manager of Alexander’s Early Stimulation & Development Foundation and President of SECDA, advocates for more support in the early childhood development sector on Sint Maarten. “Good early childhood…
Youth Parliament: our opinion matters!
There’s no lack of ideas among the members of the Sint Maarten Youth Parliament, who are trained in politics, debating and critical thinking. The first step is taken, but they…
Here are all children’s rights
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child consists of 54 articles. Every child has rights, whatever their ethnicity, gender, religion, language, abilities or any other status. All…