Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
Excited students who performed well in the GSAT examinations go wild at Polly Ground Primary School in Ewarton, St. Catherine, on Monday. Teachers at the institution have hailed as successful, a learning strategy whereby boys and girls are taught separately. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
RECRUITMENT OF Jamaica's first Children's Advocate, who will have responsibilities for protecting and enforcing the rights of children, began last week.
The Inter-Sectoral Committee, which was appointed to spearhead the establishment of the Office of the Children's Advocate, posted the job description in the local newspapers last week.
Carol Samuels, chair of the committee, told The Gleaner that the post is much different from that of the Special Envoy for Children, which was previously occupied by Ambassador Marjorie Taylor who retired last year due to illness.
According to Mrs. Samuels, who is also executive director of the Jamaica Coalition of the Rights of Child (JCRC), the post of Children's Advocate was different by "leaps and bounds".
"It is going to be totally different. This is a serious position; this is no joke business. This person will be able to do evaluation of government agencies that are in breaches," she pointed out.
CORE FUNCTIONS
According to the advertisement, the core functions of the Children's Advocate include developing, implementing and management of programmes and procedures for reviewing laws, policies and government services related to children.
The Children's Advocate will also be required to provide legal services and related assistance to children, responding to requests made through the island's courts for representation on behalf of children affected by or involved in legal proceedings.
Other core functions of the Children's Advocate include investigating and hearing complaints against government authorities and providing reasoned decisions and recommendations for action.
The qualifications required for the post are a postgraduate degree in social sciences or a related area, or a qualified attorney-at-law.
Applicants to the post should have 10-15 years of relevant professional, academic or management experience; experience in dealing with child rights, child development issues and advocacy; understanding of Jamaican laws, legal system, government and international relations and a proven ability to interact at the highest levels of state.
Mrs. Samuels is confident that the person selected for the position will be "someone who will protect children in a meaningful way."
Addressing questions on financial support and resources for the office, Mrs. Samuels said that the Children's Advocate would be supported by a team comprising a lawyer, researcher, investigator and public relations officer.
NGO SUPPORT
Along with governmental support, non-governmental organisations such as UNICEF will be solicited to assist the office, said Mrs. Samuels.
Deadline for applications for the post is July 10. Afterwards that the advocate would be appointed within 60 days.
