PARAMARIBO – Youth organizations recently expressed grave concern over the fact that many young girls are regularly reported missing. Most of the young girls who vanish are 12 years and older. The youth organizations made it clear that they want the Ministry of Justice and Police to formulate legislation aimed at handing out harsher sentences to people who kidnap underage children. But they also want these young girls to be held accountable for their actions so that others do not follow their example. Youths, regardless of their age, must also be arrested and punished.

Youth counselor Dwight Samuel wants the police to release information about the whereabouts of youths after they ran away from home. The reason for running away from home must also be given. Samuel believes that stricter punishment must be given to young girls who make a habit out of running away from home. He made it clear that they should not be given a slap on the wrist. Samuel pointed out that parents often fail to notify the police when their children return home.

Anouskha Plet who is also a youth counselor is also shocked by the fact that a growing number of young girls decide to become runaways. “Youth often believe that they know better and that they do not have to listen to the advice of their parents,” said Plet.

Samuel and Plet pointed out that the youths often own a smartphone at a very young age and that this gives them access to various social media platforms where they are exposed to many dangers. Plet shared a true story about a girl who had run away from home and who called her aunt after two weeks because she was afraid to return home. “It turns out that the girl was never reported missing and that she was welcomed home with open arms. Nobody asked her where she had been those two weeks.

This is alarming because many girls are not reported missing and when they return home they are not punished which is why these girls keep running away from home.” The youth organizations made it clear that an effective youth policy is needed. They also expressed their concern regarding the fact that the government no longer launches awareness programs to inform the youths of diseases and STDs such as HIV…[+]