THE EDITOR, Sir:
On March 26, 2004 the Child Care and Protection Act was passed into law and continues to be a well-kept secret in Jamaica. This landmark legislation the first of its kind in the Caribbean region, has ushered into reality a new legal regime for the treatment of children. How many of us know about it? I can safely speak from recent experiences that many professionals who work with and on behalf of children know little about it, and as a result continue to abuse in the name of discipline.
The Act now places greater emphasis on the responsibility of parents, families, schools and communities to protect the best interest of our children. Are they aware of these responsibilities? The sweeping changes brought by this legislation, in particular the mandatory obligation of persons in the wider society to report all incidents or suspicions of child abuse and neglect has made it critical for all of us to become informed of the provisions.
The current statistics point to children as both victims and perpetrators of crime and violence, and there is a great deal of concern expressed almost every single day.
This talk and concern must, however, lead to action. We are currently reaping the results of the many years of neglect of our children, and the inability to see them as persons deserving of equal position and attention in society. This will only worsen if we do not wake up and urgently put in place the mechanisms that will truly protect our children.
One particular violation that has come to our attention at the Jamaica Coalition on the Rights of the Child is the practice by some of our media houses who continue to publicise the embarrassing and unnecessary details of sensitive cases involving children. This is a clear infringement of the Act, which guarantees the privacy of children involved in court proceedings, on penalty of harsh fines. We are using this opportunity to urge media houses to ensure that reporters, editors and all staff are fully cognisant of their new duties and potential liabilities under the Act.
The JCRC is currently preparing materials to assist in the sensitisation of persons with primary responsibilities under the Act. It is, however, going to take much more than public education and the enforcement of laws to correct some of the ills meted out against our children. Remember, we cannot legislate caring, nurturing, love and commitment.
I am, etc.,
CAROL V. SAMUELS
(Executive Director)
Jamaica Coalition on the
Rights of the Child
C. B. Facey Building
P.O. Box 5406, Papine
Kingston 6
