Reporting Child Abuse

Every Barbadian citizen or non-national resident in Barbados has a responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves and in this case children who may be at risk of abuse or neglect.  However, although everyone should report child abuse, there are a number of professionals who because they have frequent contact with children, must report abuse or be held liable by law.

Mandatory reporters include for example:

• Principals
• All teacher and other school personnel
• The administrative officer or supervisors of child welfare and attendance, or certified pupil personnel employees of any public or private school, welfare officer, social workers and probation officers
• Administrators of any public or private day camp
• Administrators or employees of a public or private youth centre, youth recreation programme or youth organization
• Administrator or employees of a public or private organisation whose duties require direct contact and supervision of children
• Licensee, administrator or employee of a licensed community care or child day care facility
• Licensing workers or licensing evaluators
• Lawyers (subject to lawyer/client privilege)
• Employees of a child care institution including but not limited to foster parents, group home personnel and personnel of a residential care facility
• Employees of a school security department
• Administrators and counsellors in a child abuse prevention program in any public or private school
• All employees of the government of Barbados

Reporters represent a crucial link in the system to protect Barbados’ most vulnerable citizens. By law, mandatory reporters must report suspected abuse of a child regardless of whether or not the knowledge of the abuse was gained in the reporter’s official capacity. In other words, the mandatory reporting of abuse of children is a 24-hour obligation. Failure to report could result in criminal civil and/or professional liability.

The absence of training does not excuse a mandated reporter from the duty to report.  There is no duty to report past incidents of child abuse when the victim has reached the age of 18 years. However, a reporter may within his or her discretion, report incidents of past abuse that occurred before the child reached the age of 18 years.  Such reports are encouraged particularly when the abuser has current access to children.

Any person including mandated reporters who make a report of suspected abuse or neglect to the Child Care Board is immune from prosecution both civilly and criminally provided the report was made in good faith. A reporting person can be charged if the report is malicious or without reasonable grounds.