Minh Pham (right), United Nations resident coordinator in Jamaica, has a discussion with Bertrand Bainvel, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative, during a press briefing at the conclusion of a two-day conference on reducing the impact of small arms and light weapons on children and their communities, held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

The nation's youth and their involvement in organised crime was one of the concerns raised yesterday during a press briefing at the conclusion of a two-day conference on reducing the impact of small arms and light weapons on children and their communities.

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative, Bertrand Bainvel, told The Gleaner yesterday that, during one of the sessions of the conference, testimonies were heard from children on their involvement in organised crime.

This involvement included acting as informants for gangs, monitoring strategic points in the community and carrying guns for the proprietors of these gangs.

"In the two-day consultation, we heard some very interesting testimony from our children," Bainvel said. "They described some much more organised forms of violence in which children are involved. One was how children are used as informers for the dons, another mentioned how children are used to carry guns for the dons, and for this we are very concerned because children should not be involved in these kinds of activities."

Bainvel said he wanted the society to revisit the legislation on the books to toughen penalties for criminals who children in these endeavours.

Concerned and alarmed

Children's Advocate Mary Clarke also said she was concerned and alarmed by such practices and recommended a multifaceted approach to dealing with children's participation.

"It is a big problem, with no easy solution. Yes, you can have legislation to punish persons when you find them. However, we need to think how to change behaviour and to educate communities on how to train their children."

Clarke said she believed persons who wield influence in the lives of children need to work together to lead children away from the lure of the gun and a life of criminality.

Other recommendations from the two-day conference, held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, included greater integration of social intervention programmes with private and public agencies, to target communities.