Children are only safe in a safe society
Published:Thursday | June 29, 2023 | 12:31 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
Our feet will get wet when we immerse them in water, and children living in a very violent society will inevitably and regrettably have violence meted out to them. With more than 1,000 homicides annually, how can we protect children when we cannot protect their guardians?
The children’s predicament is worsened by the fact that oftentimes the adults who should protect them are their main abusers and even predators. Physical and psychological abuse remain rampant. Dozens of children are killed annually under varying circumstances.
The recent abduction and brutal killing of an innocent eight-year-old girl from Braeton Primary jolted us (at least temporarily) from our collective slumber. Consequently, I listened to many discussions on radio by various stakeholders about making schools safer, without the crucial issue being addressed.
We live in a very violent and predatory society where the most vulnerable are preyed upon and it’s unreasonable to expect children to be safe in any such society. We (the family, church, community, civil society, police, private sector, Opposition and Government) can only effectively confront, curb and minimise abuse of, and violence against children when we face the aforementioned, undisputed harsh realities. COMMONPLACE
It’s commendable that the education ministry plans to install CCTV in schools, but the threat to our children’s safety is commonplace because lawlessness abounds. A few days after the murder of the little girl, the media reported that a taxi operator was gunned down while picking up students outside Ascot School. It’s also on our roads; whether they are pedestrians or passengers in public or private vehicles.
In many homes and ‘places of safety’ where they should be safest, many children commonly suffer serious abuse. Can community policing prevent underage girls from sexual abuse by older relatives, stepfathers and, in many instances, even their own biological fathers? Can children in some communities feel safe in their bed at nights when gunmen invading houses and killing occupants or arsonists setting houses ablaze with occupants asleep are not uncommon occurrences? How long did last year’s crude and vicious murder of four children and their mother by a relative while they slept keep us out of our slumber?
My heart is very heavy. I hope many more children will not have to suffer or die for us to fully realise that our children will be safe only in a safe society. Let’s make Jamaica safe and much safer for all!
DAIVE R. FACEY