HEAR The Children’s Cry (HTCC) has reported that last month, 52 children were either raped or sexually assaulted in Jamaica.

Gillian Rowlands, chairperson for HTCC, also said that between March and May, 496 children went missing, 406 of whom returned and two were murdered.

Data from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) revealed that of the 52 cases of attacks against children, 37 of them were reported cases of rape and 15 were cases of sexual assault.

Rowlands described the problem as alarming and said there was a need for intervention.

“Families alone cannot fix the issue,” said Rowlands, who pointed out that many of the cases were as a result of poor parenting, neglect, and violence towards the most vulnerable group in the country.

She was speaking at the Spanish Court Hotel, Kingston last week where the HTCC announced the launch of the Child Watch programme, which is aimed at implementing effective interventions to curb the “complex” problem regarding missing children.

“We have created Child Watch to step up our efforts to publicise and monitor what is happening to our children, specifically those who suffer sexual and other forms of abuse, on a monthly basis,” Rowlands said.

She maintained that HTCC has made a public appeal to Jamaicans to partner with the group, as it moves to implement strategies to address the dangers faced by children.

“The HTCC has been advocating for a vital national plan of action to address the crisis Jamaican children face. We want all Jamaicans to take action and support us, as Child Watch will lobby for the creation of a police unit specifically dedicated to missing children, mandatory DNA testing for sex offenders, publication of the newly created sex offenders registry and strengthening, providing adequate resources to operate the Ananda Alert for missing children and a massive public education campaign on how citizens can prevent abuses affecting children,” said Rowlands.

HTCC said that a part of the Child Watch programme is getting parents to take advantage of the I-Safe backpacks, person and bracelet trackers that are available at PSF Alarms and Tracking which will help in monitoring children and protecting them.

Rowlands urged Jamaicans to join the programme in creating solutions and actions to develop healthy, happy Jamaican children and a more stable society.

“Let’s do it, let’s stop the talk and start the solutions,” she said.