Y-E-S, the Youth Enhancement Services, it's one of the advocacy groups that campaign against sexual abuse and exploitation of women and children. Two years ago, Y-E-S represented a position paper on recommendations that would enhance the legal protection of abused children and punish abusers. Today, they held a press conference to tell us how it has been going, and the report was dismal. Here's more.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
On October 28 of 2004, Y-E-S the Youth Enhancement Services, brought together stakeholders to hear about their (See: Y.E.S. Says No to Sex) reform agenda - 15 recommendations to protect children from child abuse and to make sure offenders are prosecuted. The event was full of promise. Keith Swift who covered the story, gushed at the prestige and promise in the room.
Keith Swift,
[October 28th 2004] "…And so at the Radisson Hotel with a captive audience of a Cabinet minister, 4 government CEOs, the Ambassador for Women and Children, a Magistrate and other NGOs, Y-E-S, formally launched what it claims will be an aggressive campaign against sexual abuse and exploitation of young girls and women."
And right on cue, that one Minister pledged her government's support..
Keith Swift,
[October 28th 2004] "Now YES says they aren't sure if GOB is with them. As a Cabinet Minister are you with them?"
Hon. Sylvia Flores,
"I don't see how government's position would be that we are against them. This is the future of our country, the young people, we could never be. We are supportive of what they are doing."
[End October 28th 2004]
But platitudes and posturing are not policy and practice. Two years have passed since those heady declarations, and support has visibly waned. This was what the room looked like this morning when YES held a session to update everyone on where the recommendations now stand. 75 people were invited including 6 Cabinet ministers but only a smattering of those invitees showed up. The dozen or so guests were mostly media, and related interests. There was no minister, no ambassador, in fact no policy level government representative at all.
Karen Cain, YES Director
"Y-E-S is a bit disappointed."
And we could see why. Of the 15 policy recommendations that were put forth 25 months ago, only one has been implemented.
Christine Staine, Advocacy Worker
"We had some short term goals and some long term goals and of those goals, only one was accomplished."
What's the excuse? It's a familiar one.
Jules Vasquez,
Who is to blame?
Karen Cain,
"I would say there is no political will. I don't think we got a good response from those in Cabinet in terms of trying to push forward the recommendations. In fact I can remember receiving a letter saying that there were not sufficient funds and that we should then probably lobby the Ministry of Finance."
And while some elements like DNA testing and Family Courts are cost-prohibitive, others such as enhanced police training or evidence gathering are not. And that's what Y-E-S says government must find, is obligated to find: money for the right causes.
Karen Cain,
"This problem is not new to government so I guess there is no political will that is there for them to change and as I said earlier the idea of 'no money noh deh,' is not acceptable because in terms of protecting children we should find the necessary resources to do what is right."
And now Y-E-S is redoubling its effort to hold government to the fire. They launched a revised position paper and this one has a timeline.
Christine Staine,
"We gave them, when we think it should be done so it is for us to be behind their backs now."
And while it would be good if the cause had a champion in the Cabinet, that self-professed champion wasn't around this morning, so Y-E-S must be its own champion.
Karen Cain,
"I would want to say Jules that unfortunately Y-E-S doesn't have the money to hire Ministers so I guess we are the champions of this cause."
The newly revised document with the timelines, will now be circulated to all relevant government departments.
