TWO champions of the nation’s youth are pleading for the creation of protective systems and more affection be offered to children, ahead of Child Month 2023.

The two — Dr Pauline Mullings, who is the chairperson for the National Child Month Committee (NCMC), and Children’s Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison — were addressing the NCMC’s 70th Child Month launch, under the theme ‘Children need our love and protection…Get involved!’ on Wednesday.

According to Harrison, the theme implies that children need protection so that they can thrive in the safety of their homes, communities and the society at large. As a result, adults need to provide the requisite environment.

“It is we who need to create systems of protection and care around them so that harm does not befall them, and it is we who need to respond in a bid to protect and reassure them,” said Harrison.

“If and when, regrettably, those systems we have created are breached, it should be a thing of the past where a child confides in a parent or caregiver that something has gone wrong and out of loyalty to the would-be perpetrator we urge that child to be quiet because this too shall pass,” she added.

She stressed a call to action to consider what must be done differently in a bid to change the outcomes of children within society’s respective scopes of influence.

“Proactivity is required; all well-thinking persons must see it as their responsibility to even say a kind word. You never know what the child may be going through and a kind word may be just the thing that will dispel whatever it is the child is experiencing. It is our responsibility to interrupt inappropriate behaviour and provide sound advice when we can. Don’t turn a blind eye,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mullings said this year’s theme is a solid reminder that children need basic input from adults who should create a safe environment for them.

Suggesting a few approaches, Mullings said, “Revisit the village approach to raising our children, where the community aided in safeguarding our children and collectively saw to their well-being; create a greater awareness of the importance of displaying love towards our children at every stage of their development.”

“Let us be mindful of what we sow, as we shall indeed reap the seeds. Adults, let us be forward thinkers; we are setting a foundation for our children. Children do grow up and they will remember the way they were treated,” she added.

This year’s celebration of activities include a church service at Wesley Methodist Church in Williamsfield, Manchester on May 7, National Children’s Day on May 19, and a youth academic achievement award ceremony at Caenwood Auditorium in Kingston on October 20.