Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer

The Child Care and Protection Act was enacted to introduce higher standards for the safety of Jamaica's children. Several incidents, including the Shanika Anderson murder case, have motivated some government and non-governmen-tal agencies to champion the cause of the act.

A unique way of tackling child abuse is being implemented by the Hope for Children Development Company (HCDC). The non-governmental organisation is championing child advocacy through an intense 'target community' approach.

"We work exclusively with four communities, Rose Town, Greenwich Town, Whitfield Town and Bennett Land," said Richard Troupe, executive director of the organisation.

"These communities have been prominently associated with incidents of child abuse. Shanika Anderson was from the Whittfield Town community," Mr. Troupe said.

The HCDC has, since its inception in 1992, been embarking on major activities to educate parents and their children to reduce their vulnerability to child predators. Further, Mr. Troupe said, "Child advocacy is a major focus of the HCDC. This is achieved through academic, social and economic support to parents and the children of these four communities."