Permanent Secretary Calls for Collective Action to End Violence Against Children

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Dr. Kasan Troupe, is calling for collective action to end violence against children.

“Violence is not a one-man band. It’s global and it will take an inter-ministerial and an inter-global partnership and approach to end what is happening to our children,” she said.

Dr. Troupe delivered the keynote address on behalf of Portfolio Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, during Wednesday’s (August 7) National Preparatory Session for the Global Ministerial Conference on ‘Ending Violence Against Children’, held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.

Noting that parents have an important role to play, Dr, Troupe urged them to attend parent empowerment sessions and to access psychological support available to them in schools, churches, communities and non-governmental organisations.

“It will take all of us in our small corner. It’s not just about the legislation or the programmes, everyone in this room will have to speak up and speak out. We have to be brave. When we see what’s happening to our children, do not turn a blind eye, because you don’t know where that child will end up. We all have to take responsibility,” Dr. Troupe said.

For his part, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Alando Terrelonge, said Jamaica has continued to uphold its commitment to the protection and promotion of child rights.

As one of the Co-chairs of Group of Friends on Children and the Sustainable Development Goals, Mr. Terrelonge said Jamaica’s leadership has ensured that children’s issues feature prominently on the global agenda and that they reflect and respond to shared concerns in addressing both long-standing and emerging challenges.

Mr. Terrelonge commended the National Preparatory Committee for its work, thus far, in ensuring that Jamaica remains actively engaged in the process towards a successful Global Ministerial Conference.

“Addressing the challenge of violence against children requires the support of all stakeholders, including partners across the public and private sectors, civil society, as well as our international partners. It also includes the key stakeholder group of parents. In Jamaica, statistics show that the majority of cases of violence and abuse against our children happen in our homes,” he shared.

Mr. Terrelonge said the discussion requires national attention and recognises the need to push back against certain cultural norms.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), Laurette Adams-Thomas, underscored that the preparatory session marks a crucial step in Jamaica’s journey towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16.2, which aims to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children.

“It serves as a vital platform for us to collectively examine our progress, to identify our challenges and to set ambitious yet achievable goals for our nation. Our discussions today will shape the national narrative that we present on the global stage – highlighting Jamaica’s successes and outlining our enhanced commitment to ending violence against children,” Mrs. Adams-Thomas said.

She added that the discussions will also result in defining the key actions necessary to scale up priority programmes that will ensure that every Jamaican child can grow up in a safe and nurturing environment.

The first Ministerial Conference on ‘Ending Violence Against Children’ will be held in Bogota, Colombia, from November 7 to 8, 2024.