Dear Editor,

The savage, premeditated rape and murder of 10-year-old Nikita Noel is yet another tragic example of the very real and entrenched disregard for the lives and well-being of women and girls in our country.

The Advocates Network and WMW Jamaica extend our condolence to Nikita’s family and friends and join the call demanding immediate action to protect our children. We agree with Esher Primary School Principal Antoinette Wright’s call for a national sensitisation programme regarding child predators. Robust awareness-raising and public education are critical to any prevention efforts.

It is very important for our communities to be aware of how paedophiles usually operate and strategies that can be employed to better protect their children. Parents should discuss with their children what makes them feel afraid and uncomfortable and explain to their children what a sexual predator is and some of the signs to look out for.

We also call for more accountability from our leaders and those tasked with protecting our children. The Government must provide buses and other means of transportation with drivers who have been trained and vetted. Families and communities must be educated and any suspected perpetrator reported to the police, with warnings posted in the community to be on alert.

We are responsible for the safety and daily well-being of our children. We urge everyone to remain vigilant and proactive and to do all that can be done to ensure we do not lose any more children to barbaric violence.

Let “our children are our future” be a real pledge, and not just an empty maxim.

Advocates Network

WMW Jamaica

advocatesnet@gmail.com

hello@wmwja.org