While we still fret about the number of children being reported missing in Jamaica, we are encouraged by news from the Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR) that there has been a 10 per cent decline in the number of children reported missing in 2014, compared with 2013.

The number is based on preliminary statistics from the Missing Person Monitoring Unit (MPMU) of the Jamaica Constabulary  Force (JCF), which show that between January and December last year, 1,984 children were reported missing, against the 2,205 children reported missing the previous year.

That, however, is still too many children being reported missing. Of special concern is that 79 per cent of the missing children are females, as against 21 per cent of males. We can’t help thinking that sexual abuse may be one of the main causative factors.

One happy figure, the OCR shared, is that about nine out of every 10 children reported missing in 2014 returned home, and further that the number of children reported still being missing at the end of December 2014 fell by 214, from the 467 recorded at the end of 2013.

Jamaicans will be relieved to know as well that there was a 50 per cent decline in the number of missing children who were reported dead in 2014.  

OCR Registrar Mr Greig Smith has attributed the encouraging statistics to the effectiveness of the Ananda Alert, which is the international (Amber Alert) and now nationwide system used for the safe and speedy recovery of missing children.

We suggest that further analysis of the figures be done to give the nation a better handle on what is happening among children being reported missing. For example, it struck us as odd that so many more girls are going missing than boys.

It is noteworthy that, in studies carried out in the United States, it has been found that among children reported missing, far more common than abductions by strangers, is the incidence of children who have run away.

Of course, there are the ones who have got lost or injured, have been taken by a family member (usually in a custody dispute), or simply aren’t where they’re expected to be because of miscommunication. Less rare is when families falsely report a child as missing to disguise murderous deeds.

The study, which also shows a drop in missing children in the US, suggests the use of cellphones has been a big help, both for missing children and people reporting them. Other factors probably include the fact that countries are becoming more aggressive about finding, prosecuting, incarcerating, supervising, treating, and deterring offenders.

The Internet is suggested as making a significant difference in changing the way young people take risks by experimenting more online as against going out without a chaperone or companion and thereby exposing themselves to abductions.

The study suggests that prevention, always better than a cure, lies in teaching children to protect themselves and in emphasising family therapy, mediation and child protection for those who may be running away because of conflicts in the home.

As always, we firmly support the call by the OCR for Jamaicans everywhere to work together with the state agencies in safeguarding our children.