REPORTS of child abuse have almost doubled for the last three months when compared to the same period in 2021, heightening concerns among childcare and protection advocates.

According to figures released from the National Children’s Registry (NCR) on Wednesday, there were 4,211 reports of child abuse between January and March, an increase from 2,276 reports for the corresponding period last year.

Addressing the Child Month 2022 media launch at the Institute of Jamaica in Kingston on Wednesday, director of children and family programmes at the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), Warren Thompson said the reduction in reports last year is still troubling.

“While we observed a decline in 2021 particularly, due to the [novel coronavirus] pandemic, the research has suggested that it is not that children are not being abused, it is that they have not been given the opportunity to say to someone that they are being abused; or the people that normally see them are not seeing them and are not able to report it,” said Thompson.

“An important aspect of child participation is ensuring that children have their voices heard, particularly when it is speaking about matters of abuse and safeguarding. When children are abused or when they are neglected, opportunities must be created for their voices to be heard,” he urged.

In supporting his view that children’s voices must be heard, he stressed on the importance of the 211 helpline.

“This is why the CPFSA launched last year our 211 child abuse reporting line…We want our children to be able to call us at any time of the day,” he said.

The 24-hour helpline, which has been operational since last June, is the first of its kind in Jamaica and can be dialled from a cellular or landline telephone, free of cost.

It is operated by professionals from the CPFSA through the National Children’s Registry.