THE Hear the Children’s Cry Committee (HCCC) has launched a national campaign to mobilise practical support from citizens, to safeguard Jamaican children and young people from violence.

The committee’s first move was the production of a 10-point action list with security oriented tips for parents, families and community members.

The list has been produced as a one-page flyer, sponsored by UNICEF Jamaica, and was first distributed to pedestrians and motorists passing through the busy Half Way Tree square in Kingston on Sunday.

This followed a meeting of concerned citizens in the square, organised by Hear the Children convener Betty Ann Blaine.

HCCC is an umbrella group of organisations working for the welfare of children, including Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Visions of Hope and the Victorious Movement of Jesus in Jamaica.

The flyer, headlined Let’s Keep Our Children Free From Violence: 10 Point Action List, is available from the Hear the Children (phone: 462-0628; fax: 941-5210).

The Action List

What we can do as parents, family members and communities:

. Take five minutes every morning and every night to pray with your child/children, hug them every day and say ‘I love you’;

. Know where your child is at all times;

. Know who you child’s friends are and encourage them to ‘hang out’ at places you know are safe;

. Encourage you child to walk in a group and not alone;

. Accompany your child to and from school if possible;

. Tell your child not to stop for conversations with strangers;

. Tell your child not to allow any stranger to touch him/her;

. Tell your child not to resist a robber or gunman. Your child’s life is worth more than money or goods;

. Keep an eye out for the children in your community; and

. Put the police emergency number 119 as a ‘one-touch’ on your cell phone; and ‘Crime-in-Progress’ 924-1435.