By Robert Hart, Staff ReporterTHE LANDMARK Child Care and Protec-tion Act has been passed in the House of Representatives with the unanimous approval of both sides of the political divide.
During Tuesday's sitting of the House, Health Minister John Junor said the bill would create a "new deal for Jamaica's children."
Mr. Junor, who led the debate, outlined several provisions within the new legislation and praised the various entities that contributed to its formation, including the Task Force on Child Abuse, the Specialist Committee on Child Care and Protection and Parliament's Joint Select Committee of which he was chairman that considered the provisions.
"In passing this bill into law, Jamaica will be taking another giant step in fulfilling its obligations under the Child Rights Convention," the Health Minister said.
"More importantly, we will, among other things, be creating a better society for the healthy growth and development of our children with full recognition of their rights to education, health and survival, emotional support and protection from abuse and exploitation."
Minister Junor also indicated that audits of the physical facilities of the island's 60 children's homes and places of safety have been completed and that the results of the audits are now being processed.
The condition of and activities within the children's homes and places of safety have come under intense scrutiny in the wake of last year's damning report on sexual and physical abuse within the facilities.
The content of the Keating Committee's Children's Homes Report led to an Opposition call for the resignation of the Health Minister, under whose portfolio the homes fall.
Dr. Ken Baugh, Opposition Spokesman on Health, said the passing of the bill "has significant relevance to the well being of our children."
He also noted that the "furore" created over children's homes in 2003 allowed the country to recognise that it had been negligent in taking care of its children.
Dr. Baugh, who led the call for the Health Minister's head last July, complimented Mr. Junor for the dignified manner in which he conducted the sittings of the Joint Select Committee.
Among the provisions introduced in the Child Care legislation are the establishment of a system of mandatory reporting of child abuse and the establishment of a Central Registry for the reporting of abuse of children. The bill also makes it a requirement that a Children's Advocate be appointed to act in legal matters on behalf of children under 18 years old.
