THE first annual report of the Office of the Children’s Advocate has painted a disturbing view of the status of Jamaican children. According to the report, which was tabled in the House of Representatives last Tuesday, over the past five years more than 300 children – most of them boys – have been murdered. At the same time, the report noted that incidents of carnal abuse have continued to rise.

Statistics contained in the document show that the number of sexual crimes reported against children in 2005 – all of who were female victims – was more than 700, while 1,185 cases of carnal abuse and rape were reported in 2006. The report said it was estimated that only 20 per cent of rape cases were reported to the police as against 85 per cent of household crimes.

Furthermore, it said in 2006, 20 children perished in fires – nearly double the number who died in 2005 – while an additional 23 wards died in care; 19 from natural causes and four by accidental deaths.

The office said based on a situation analysis of children in Jamaica and complaints received, it was recommending that a National Authority for Child and Family Services be established. The authority is expected to bring all agencies dealing with matters relating to children and families together periodically to deal with critical issues affecting children in a “holistic and timely manner”.

It is also expected to monitor the status of implementation of Plans of Action and Policies impacting children such as the Healthy Lifestyle Policy, the National Framework of Action for Children, among others.

In the event of the death of a child, especially one in the care of the State, the report recommended the convening of an independent Fatality Review Board which would work with the Office of the Children’s Advocate.

The function of the board would be to receive and consider reports of sudden child deaths to “clearly identify factors which contributed to the death such as any failure in any part of the system of services and to inform on the improvement of service delivery and practice”.

In the meantime, the office also expressed concern that “too many children are seen on television participating in demonstrations sometimes in volatile situations”.

According to the report, “a policy decision is urgently needed to protect children from possible harm and from socialising them into a system of disruptive behaviour in order to get attention and action”.

In the meantime, it said children who are victims of rape and carnal abuse should be able to access public financial assistance to help with the effects of their abuse, especially where the abuse results in pregnancy.

Between February 1, 2006 and March 31, 2007, the Office of the Children’s Advocate has received and recorded some 275 complaints. Of this number 31 were referred to the education ministry, 100 to the Child Development Agency (CDA), seven to the health ministry, 40 to the Jamaica Constabulary Force and nine to the justice system.

Of the cases referred to the CDA, child abuse accounted for 35 cases while care and protection accounted for 40 cases. In the case of the complaints reported to the police, sexual offences accounted for 40 cases while for the education ministry, exclusion, suspension and expulsion were the highest number of cases reported.

In the meantime, the office said eight complaints were received against the education ministry, 18 against the Child Development Agency, three against the health ministry, 16 against the Jamaica Constabulary Force and 20 against the justice system.