Child abuse crisis - Hundreds of cases reported since January
published: Thursday | May 8, 2008

Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

The Children's Registry has disclosed that it has received more than 700 reports of child abuse, including sexual and physical mistreatment, since the start of the year.

This has prompted Children's Advocate Mary Clarke to demand that more resources be allocated for the counselling of abused children.

The Ministry of Health currently undertakes counselling through its guidance clinics across the island. The Child Development Agency (CDA) does some counselling, but Clarke said this is not enough.

"What we need are more therapeutic interventions for children who have been severely impacted by child abuse," she said.

Up to press time last night, Alison Anderson, chief executive officer of the CDA, could not be reached for a comment.

An individual who is aware of a a case of child abuse but fails to report it to the Children's Registry can be fined a maximum of $500,000 in court, sentenced to six months in prison, or be subjected to both penalties.

Clarke, however, said she was pleased that there was a greater level of awareness of the rights of children to protection.

Shocking

Sylvester Anderson, president of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica, has expressed shock at the number of reported cases of child abuse since January.

"To have so many reported cases is indeed surprising," he told The Gleaner yesterday, adding that he would have expected fewer reports, given the heightened discussions on the rights of children.

Anderson encouraged parents to ensure the safety of their children.

Meanwhile, Grace-Ann McFarlane, acting children's registrar, said as more people become aware of the Children's Registry, the number of reports of child abuse increases.

She also noted that a number of calls were made by the mandatory reporters, such as doctors and teachers.

McFarlane explained that when the reports are received, they are either sent to the CDA, the Office of the Children's Advocate, or both, for investigation.

Procedure

The outcome of the cases are forwarded to the registry for action to be taken.

"It is really urgent and critical that persons don't turn a blind eye to the abuses that are happening to our children," McFarlane said.

She was unaware of any prosecution for the failure to report abuse against children, but said several abusers have been prosecuted.