OCA Condemns Rape of Children in Western Jamaica: Office Calls for Implementation of Sexual Offenders’ Registry

Kingston, Jamaica, September 27, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The Office of The Children’s Advocate (OCA) has noted with deep concern and pain for the nation’s children recent reports of violent acts against children which have been reported in the media.

The gruesome rape of three girls ages 8, 14, and 16 on Monday in Irwin, St. James, the alleged impregnation of an 11 year old girl by her grand-uncle in St. Ann, as well as the recent discovery of the bodies of two little boys ages 10 and 7 in Zion District, Trelawny who seem to have been violated and subsequently killed, illustrate the callous disregard of our children’s entitlement to life and protection, and their right to live in a society that safeguards their well-being.

Children’s Advocate, Diahann Gordon Harrison, noted that “such atrocities clearly demonstrate that there remains a cadre of adults within our Jamaican society who fail to recognize that we are all charged with the responsibility of protecting our children. To do otherwise and to willfully perpetrate acts of violence against children means that there is a callousness which seems to be superseding basic decency and our moral obligation towards our children. The impact of these acts of terrorism is not only felt by our children, but by the entire society at large. The OCA condemns this violence and hopes that the perpetrators will be apprehended by law enforcement and that if convicted, severe sentences are awarded at the appropriate time.”

Mrs. Gordon Harrison further stated that “events such as these underscore the urgent need for the implementation of tools that can further assist us in the protection of the nation’s children. As Children’s Advocate I use this opportunity to reiterate our call for the rolling out of the Sexual Offenders’ Registry as is provided for by our laws and for the use of video link and video recorded evidence in appropriate criminal proceedings.”

The Children’s Advocate also noted that the media should be mindful of the sensitivity of such cases when publishing their reports. “We recognize that there is a delicate balance that has to be achieved in this regard. While it may be desirable to capture the substance and the abhorrence of the crime, journalists must also be aware of the negative and traumatic effect that the revelation of too much detail can have on a child victim. The print media yesterday (September 26, 2012) published intimate medical details associated with the St. Ann story and had a photograph of the room in which it is alleged the incident occurred. Caution must be exercised as one would hate to add to the trauma and the discomfiture which the child undoubtedly feels, and also because of the child’s right to privacy and the undergirding principle that we must at all times strive to omit any details which may lead to the identification of the child involved and the possibility of stigmatization of that child.”

Sexual violence against the nation’s children has been of particular concern. Data from the Office of The Children’s Registry (OCR) indicates that between 2007-2011, there were 7,245 reports of alleged sexual abuse, of that number 6789 of them were against girls.

For further information contact:
Nicole Hayles
Manager, Public Education and Special Projects
Telephone: (876) 948-1293 / 948-3771