Governments Must Give Appropriate Warnings

The Herald 16 April 2005

By Kellie Tranter

I was saddened to read about the recent overseas child abuse cases that arose from unsuspecting parents leaving their children in holiday resort childcare centres.

Anyone travelling overseas must remember that there is a different legal regime in every country that they visit.

This can and does create significant challenges for the law, government and law enforcers when unfortunate circumstances such as this arise.

Do not be mistaken. People often assume that our laws, rules and regulations apply internationally. They do not.

And our government and our law enforcers cannot dictate to another country about what is fair or just or appropriate, just as other countries cannot dictate to us.

Awareness is always the key.

Unfortunately this becomes difficult when our government is not prepared to do what it can and should, which is to publish all verified material highlighting all known and potential risks of child abuse in international childcare centres.