KINGSTON, Jamaica — UNICEF says it is greatly concerned about the ongoing epidemic of violence against children, and is urging Jamaica and its international development partners to put more investment in efforts that focus on violence prevention.

According to reports by the Ministry of National Security’s Jamaica Crime Observatory, during the period 2011-2015, males aged 11-17 were more likely than females to be murdered, robbed or shot. Females in the same age group were more at risk of being sexually assaulted.

Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) statistics for 2014 indicate that 44 children were murdered, 138 were victims of shootings and aggravated assault, and 447 girls were victims of rape.

UNICEF said in a release Wednesday, that in order to address the root causes of the violence affecting the country, including children and their families, there is an urgent need for more community-based interventions designed to prevent and stem violence.

UNICEF pointed to the success of the Violence Interruption Programme, being implemented by the Peace Management Initiative and the Ministry of National Security – in response to concerns about the country’s high homicide rates.

It said that in 2015, the Violence Interruption Programme, working along with other stakeholders, helped to reduce murders by seven per cent and four per cent respectively in St James and St Catherine, two of the country’s high crime parishes.

“The programme, modelled on the approach of the USA-based “Cure Violence” programme, treats violence as a public health issue.  Over 60 trained Violence Interrupters, who are highly-respected community residents, identify and detect potentially violent situations and the persons likely to get involved in conflict. They also interrupt potential violence by mediating conflicts and preventing retaliation, and make continuous efforts to influence the behaviour of persons who are most likely to get involved in shootings or murders,” UNICEF said.

The organisation called on the Government and other international development partners to consider making greater investments to expand the Violence Interruption programme, and to support similar community-based prevention efforts.

UNICEF, in partnership with the Government of Jamaica, started a new five-year country programme of cooperation in January 2017.

During this period, UNICEF said it will put heavy emphasis on supporting and advocating for programmes, policies and laws that seek to improve safety and justice for children, with a greater focus on violence prevention.