New powers to social workers in bid to stem child abuse

SOCIAL workers will be able to initiate a medical examination of a minor if there is reasonable suspicion of the child’s abuse, according to a new bill discussed in the House yesterday.

The bill also provides for the criminal prosecution of people who fail to report serious incidents of abuse in families involving minors or mentally handicapped persons.

The issue was discussed by the joint House Legal Affairs and Labour Committees yesterday, with a view to ending the indifference potentially exhibited by teachers and other professionals who may come into contact with a case of abuse.

The bill provides that failure to report such a case will be a criminal offence.
It also gives social workers the authority to order a child to be examined when they suspect abuse, without the permission of parents or guardians.

Social services representative Annita Koni told the committee that in one case a child was being molested by the grandfather but the mother would not give permission for a medical examination.

For the protection of victims, their videotaped testimony will not be handed over to the suspect, who will have to watch it, in the presence of their lawyer, at the police offices where it is kept as evidence.

To avoid such tapes falling into the wrong hands, or even ending up on the Internet, the tape will be given to the victim upon request.

Koni said it was important to include in the proposed legislation provisions for such evidence to be kept as confidential material.

Deputies raised questions concerning who would take the victim’s testimony and whether it should be someone of the same gender.

Police representative Marianna Frantzi assured the committee that there were currently 300 trained officers who could handle such cases and that gender was not an issue any longer.

But she did suggest that the provision be amended to give the victim the right to choose the officer who would take the statement.