CPFSA Head Highlights Plan Of Action To End Violence Against Children

The National Plan of Action for an Integrated Response to Children and Violence (NPACV), which was launched in 2019, is part of Jamaica’s response to its commitment made to the Global Partnership to end violence against children and will be implemented over a five-year period.

This was emphasised by Chief Executive Officer of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), Rosalee Gage-Grey, at the virtual launch of Child Month 2021 on Tuesday, April 13.

“The goal is to create and maintain a protective environment supportive of and responsive to the issues of violence, child abuse and maltreatment of children in Jamaica,” she said.

Child Month 2021 will be observed in May under the theme I Strive to Overcome Adversities with Resilience (I SOAR).

According to Mrs. Gage-Grey, several government ministries, agencies and departments; civil society groups and other stakeholders are collaborating to execute the NPACV.

The objective of the plan is to reduce the impact of violence against children through an integrated approach to prevention, control, intervention responses, monitoring and evaluation.

This is to ensure that the rights of children are preserved, and that an environment is created to stimulate their positive growth and development into productive citizens of Jamaica.

“The CPFSA remains committed to the care and protection of Jamaica’s children deemed at risk or otherwise in need of care and protection. Through our primary, secondary and tertiary prevention programmes, we aim to protect children from all forms of abuse, neglect, harm or the threat of harm,” Mrs. Gage-Grey said.

There were 9,836 reported cases of abuse against children in 2020, and sexual abuse accounted for 20 per cent of the amount.

Due to the impact of the pandemic and in line with the Disaster Risk Management Protocol, activities for Child Month have been significantly curtailed.

The National Child Month Committee (NCMC) will host virtual events during May, starting with a National Church Service on Sunday. May 2 at the Linstead Pentecostal Tabernacle in St. Catherine.

This will be followed by the observation of National Children’s Day on Friday, May 21.

Children six to 17 years old will have the opportunity to give their best interpretation of the Child Month theme in song, dance, poetry or the playing of a musical instrument. These will be showcased on the Day on various social media platforms.

Adults are also being encouraged to use the day to treat the children, boost their spirits, give tangible gifts, reaffirm their worth and help them to soar.

Child Month celebrations will culminate with a Day of Prayer on Wednesday, May 26. Churches across the island will use the day to pray for the nation’s children.

Sponsors for Child Month 2021 activities are GraceKennedy Limited, National Baking Company Foundation, Joan Duncan Foundation; Sagicor Foundation, and Caribbean Broilers.