The President of the National Council of Unity for Childhood and Adolescence (COUNIAD) composed of 123 Foundations nationwide, and Chaired by Lic. Sandra Castillo.
A call regarding the death of a 14-year-old teenager in State custody has generated deep dismay and has highlighted the weaknesses of the child protection system.
Beyond the individual responsibilities determined by the investigations, this case forces an examination of the conditions existing in foster homes, where minors with very different histories and needs live together.
Castillo stated that specialists have warned for years about the need to create specialized spaces to address cases of violence, abuse, conflict with the law, and substance use, guaranteeing more adequate and safe care.
We recommend reading: Tragedy in Puerto Plata: three-year-old girl dies after falling into a pool
More Read
Added to this situation is the shortage of staff and limited supervision in some centers, factors that hinder the early detection of conflicts and risk situations.
It is worth noting that the Children’s Cabinet, presided over by First Lady Raquel Arbaje, is carrying out programs that have greatly strengthened our childhood, but it is necessary for all sectors to join in providing support to it.
The lack of coordination between technical teams and caregivers also represents a challenge for the effective protection of adolescents.
More Read
The tragedy raises a fundamental question: what failed within a system created to protect the most vulnerable? Society demands answers, but also reforms that strengthen oversight, increase specialized human resources, and improve prevention mechanisms.
The death of this teenager must become an urgent call to review and transform the child protection system to ensure that similar events do not happen again.
Therefore, it is necessary that we are more vigilant regarding these and other cases.
