The Child Development Agency (CDA) is taking its message of personal responsibility for child care and protection across the island.

The agency launched the first of its public meetings and exhibitions on July 3 at the Trench Town Multi-Purpose Centre in South St Andrew under the theme: 'Every Child is My Child'.

Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna, who was the guest speaker, told residents that each year there are increased reports of child abuse, with reports of sexual abuse up 70 per cent last year. "It is a problem because what we are realising is that in Jamaica, as much as we say we love our children, the fact is that we have a culture of child abuse and a culture of child violence," she stated.

accountable

She said the problem can be fixed but it means that everyone will have to do their part, and called for volunteers to work with the CDA. "We need more persons to crusade for children. If you see something happening, call us. Tell us. As a minister, yes I am there to help policy, but as a mother I am there to fight for children. I want you to hold me accountable. We cannot do it overnight, but I can't do it by myself," the minister said.

She stated that the Government is 'wide awake' to the issue and gave a warning to abusers, especially those in children's homes. "From our part, any worker in the children's homes who are abusing children will be sent home. Anybody who is abusing children, we will hunt them down, we will find them and we will punish them," she said.

strong message

Chief Executive Officer of the CDA, Carla Francis-Edie, stated that the agency wanted to send a strong message that each person must take personal responsibility to care for and protect the nation's children.

"Each of us must see it as our duty to protect, love and care for the children in our neighbourhood, whether or not we are related to them. This is even more critical because over the last five years, the Office of the Children's Registry has received over 25,000 reports of child abuse, abandonment and neglect," she informed.

Francis-Edie told residents that they can help family members, friends and neighbours by watching out for their children to ensure that no one abuses them. She also encouraged persons to become foster parents, noting that there are over 2,000 children in state care who need a home.