Children Advocate Mary Clarke.

Tendai Franklyn-Brown, Staff Reporter

DURING THE month of May, which was celebrated nationally as Child Month, some 200 children below age 10 were treated at the Bustamante Children's Hospital in Kingston for accident-related injuries and physical abuse. In addition, 12 children were murdered, casualties of gang violence.

Dr Carolyn Pinnock, paediatric surgeon at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, said most of the cases she dealt with were girls between the age of six and nine years. This cohort represented the highest number of child-abuse cases reported and investigated. Violations, she disclosed, ranged from those traumatised by witnessing a violent assault to sexual abuse cases, which roughly account for 25 per cent of cases seen, to the vast majority, which involved physical abuse.

"There is quite a significant amount of physical abuse; we have big problems with how to discipline children," Pinnock told The Sunday Gleaner. Too many parents think it's appropriate to hit them with objects. Then there is emotional abuse, shouting at them, calling them names ... that is also a violation of their basic human rights," she added.

Last month's statistics, contained in a recent report by the Child Development Agency (CDA), represent an increase over previous months, and have child advocacy groups worried. Seven children were murdered in April compared to 12 in May, according to police reports.

Children Advocate Mary Clarke says the figures are disturbing, particularly as Child Month was meant to promote children's right to survival which, she argues, has been violated on numerous occasions.

"The energy of the nation needs to be channelled to issues concerning the safety of our children. Much more awareness activities are necessary," she suggests.

Clarke says parenting challenges spawned by harsh socio-economic circumstances contribute heavily to child abuse. She also alludes to the fact that children are committing violent acts against each other in institutions such as schools, suggesting they are reflecting what they see.

What is happening?

"Children are in schools stoning teachers, schools closed and classes suspended, what is happening? Children in Jamaica are contributing to violence in society, children live by example, they are not amicably resolving differences in a peaceful manner," Clarke points out.

Child Month, Clarke says, was a particularly busy month, as the CDA conducted many public education talks in schools and churches across the country to raise the awareness of issues affecting children, but she thinks more needs to be done.

"I think we need more enforce-ment, I think parents should be made accountable, and they are not and they are getting away with not being accountable," Clarke asserts. "I also think we need more public education. I really believe if persons knew better, they would do better."