KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Ruel Reid, says that Jamaicans have a responsibility under the Child Care and Protection Act to report known and suspected cases of child abuse.

He said a 2013 survey by the Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR), which tested people’s knowledge, attitude, practices and behaviour towards child maltreatment in Jamaica, revealed that 90 per cent of known cases of child abuse remain unreported by the adults who knew what was happening.

“It is alarming to think of the many children continue to suffer in silence because they either don’t know to whom they should report these matters or are otherwise convinced not to make reports,” Reid said.

“We all must see it as an imperative to do what is within our power to ensure that attention is given to children, who fall into these very difficult situations where they are exploited and abused,” he added.

Reid was speaking at the Protect the Children Symposium at The Mico University College in Kingston on July 27.

The event was organised by the United States-based Diaspora group, Female Development World Organisation, as part of activities for Diaspora Day of Service.

The education minister further encouraged Jamaicans to make every effort to be informed about the issues and become familiar with the possible signs that a child has or is being abused.