CHILD Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) has moved to provide support to a six-year-old girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted by a 15-year-old boy at a day-care facility in St Ann.

The Ocho Rios police have reported that the girl was at the facility when the boy barged in on her in the bathroom and raped her.

A report was made to the police and an investigation launched. The boy was taken to the police by relatives and was charged with rape and grievous sexual assault. Up to press time on Monday his court date had not been finalised.

According to CPSFA, the incident happened on Saturday, January 27, 2024 while the child was left in the care of an adult known to her family.

Following the incident the child was taken to hospital that same day by her parent, where she received a medical examination. She remains in the care of her parents.

CPSFA also referred the child to the Ministry of Justice’s Victim Services Division for counselling and psychosocial support.

According to CPSFA, the child will also be provided support by its Children and Family Support Unit (CFSU).

The agency also noted that the 15-year-old boy is a child, so he can receive representation from the Office of the Children’s Advocate.

“The CPFSA was made aware of this incident through a report made to our National Children’s Registry [NCR]. An investigation was immediately launched into the incident and the victim’s family was contacted and support offered. The child was also referred to the Victim Services Division for counselling and psychosocial support,” said the agency.

“The CPFSA and the Ministry of Education and Youth continue to speak out against all forms of child abuse. This incident is particularly devastating because the abuser is also a child, but we stand firmly with the victim and her family and stay ready to offer any additional support that they may need,” added the agency.

CPFSA has also reminded and has encouraged Jamaicans to report any and all forms of child abuse using the 24-hour child abuse reporting hotline, 211. “Child abuse reports may also be made through WhatsApp/text at 876-878-2882, e-mail report@childprotection.gov.jm or by visiting any CPFSA parish office, or through our social media pages (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) @cpfsajm,” said the agency.

This is the latest of a series of news releases issued by the CPSFA in recent weeks.

Between January 18 and February 11 CPSFA highlighted seven instances of abuse, the majority of which occurred in the first four weeks of the year.

The cases include a girl seen being stomped on by a woman in a video that went viral on social media; the alleged rape of a seven-year-old girl by her 26-year-old male cousin in Trelawny; a 12-year-old girl who was abducted and sexually assaulted in St James; a 14-year-old student who was reportedly attacked by a 42-year-old security guard at a bus stop in St Andrew; an 11-year-old girl seen in a video being beaten with a piece of bamboo by her father; the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl by a security guard whom she met online; and the reported rape of a 15-year-old girl by a bike taxi operator in Westmoreland.

Last week, data from CPFSA revealed that there were 1,226 reports of child abuse recorded by the NCR in the first month of 2024. Of that number, 338 were reports of sexual abuse, 301 were of physical abuse, and 476 related to neglect. The majority of reports, 208, were recorded in Kingston and St Andrew; followed by St Catherine, 183; and St Ann with 130.

While the numbers indicate a decline compared to the 1,540 reports made during the same period last year, Lesia Bhagwandat-Vassell, deputy registrar of the NCR, says the agency remains concerned that the number of reports are too high.