BLAINE
SEXUAL PREDATORS can expect to come under greater pressure as at least one children's lobby group has pledged its support in the fight against carnal abuse.
Betty-Ann Blaine, convenor for Hear the Children's Cry, was responding to a call by Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips, for incidents of carnal abuse to be tackled from various fronts in order to eliminate the scourge from the Jamaican society.
Last week, the National Security Minister attributed the 40 per cent increase in carnal abuse to a crisis in social relations.
"I think this is an opportunity for all organisations interfacing directly with parents, communities and children, to form a strong coalition to work with the Government to protect our young girls who are being molested, often in their own homes," said Ms. Blaine.
In an effort to stem the level of abuse in the country, she said that Hear the Children's Cry will be launching a parenting education programme along with the Kingston and St. Andrew Action Forum.
"We are going to begin our parenting campaign to address those issues specifically on how to prevent it (carnal abuse), educate people on the new Child Care and Protection Act and encourage people how to report these abuses," she told The Gleaner yesterday.
Additionally, she explained that Hear the Children's Cry along with the Action Forum and the Duhaney Park Peace and Development Committee, would be networking with Government agencies such as the rape unit, victims support programme, and the Jamaica Theological Seminary to provide support for children traumatised by carnal abuse.
