Cabinet endorses Child Welfare Decree

A Child Welfare Decree 2010 has been endorsed by Cabinet to see the reporting of child abuse cases reported to the appropriate authorities by health officials.

The Decree will come into effect on a date set by the Health Minister Dr Neil Sharma who said this Decree is in response to the concern raised by health professionals at the increasing number of incidences of child abuse cases seen through the health system.

He said the current legislation currently lacks any requirement of mandatory reporting of such cases and the objectives of the Child Welfare Decree 2010 is to ensure mandatory reporting of cases of breach of safety and to promote welfare of children by medical professionals to appropriate authorities.

Dr Sharma said that under the Decree the content of the reporting of such cases will be looked at as it ensures confidentiality of information.

He said the omission of reporting is a breach of professional conduct by health officials and an offence under the Decree.