…Children’s Advocate calls on all well thinking Jamaicans to help protect Jamaica’s Children
The Office of The Children’s Advocate (OCA) has taken note of the heightened reports of violence among students at the start of the new academic term. The recent stabbing death of 15-year-old Euric Brown and the injuring of another boy at the Institute of Academic Excellence earlier this week, and the subsequent arrest and charge of two 16-year-old boys for the incident, as well as reports of violent clashes between male students at the Half Way Tree Transport Centre are cause for concern.
Children’s Advocate, Diahann Gordon Harrison, noted that the increased incidents of violence among children are reflective of the wider problem of violence in our society. “The killing of Euric Brown is a sad incident and it serves as a reminder that violence begets violence and if we as a nation do not adapt alternative methods of resolving conflicts, then we limit the exposure of our children to the various problem solving alternatives that exist. We use this medium to offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to his family. The issue of violence among our children is a growing problem to which the OCA is stridently opposed, as such anti-social behaviour is a microcosm of the wider problem in society. If our children are constantly bombarded with reports, and at times witnesses to violent acts, it will affect them psychologically, and unfortunately some of our children will see this as the only manner in which to resolve conflicts.”
The OCA acknowledges the efforts implemented by the Ministry of Education and the Jamaica Constabulary Force through its Safe Schools Programme, and other groups all across Jamaica who work with our children. However the Office maintains that we need to do more and as such we call upon those who have the responsibility to care for children, the church community and residents who live within the various communities to play their part in nurturing more positive attitudes within our children. On the part of the OCA, one of our strategies is a national schools’ campaign which allows the OCA to have frank and intimate exchanges with students at all levels.
The OCA implores all well-thinking Jamaicans to join us in the task of protecting our children collectively. 2013 is a new year and it gives us new opportunities. Let us commit to each play our part in this way.
