EDUCATION and Youth Minister Fayval Williams has implored Jamaicans to report incidents of child abuse where they suspect or know of them.

Making her contribution to th 2024/25 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Williams encouraged Jamaicans to use the 211 hotline which is a singular helpline for children at risk or for anyone who wishes to report child abuse. She also reminded members of the House to apprise their constituents of the number.

“We do not want any of our children abused, not a boy child, not a girl child. No one. Regardless of the type of abuse the result is harmful. I say to all Jamaicans, if you suspect a child is suffering from abuse or neglect, it’s important to speak out. And you can do so easily by dialling 211. By catching the problem as early as possible, both the child and the abuser can get the help that they need,” she said.

Williams made the plea against the backdrop of Child Month being observed in May and its theme: “Stand Up. Speak Out. Protect the Rights of the Children.”

Quoting psychiatrist Senator Dr Saphire Longmore, Williams pointed out that child abuse isn’t just about black eyes. She said that while physical abuse is shocking due to the marks it leaves, not all signs of child abuse are as obvious.

“Ignoring a child’s ne eds, putting them in unsupervised and dangerous situations, exposing them to sexual situations, or making them feel worthless or stupid are also forms of child abuse and neglect, and these treatments that are all too frequently meted out to our children can and do leave deep, lasting scars on our children,” she said.

Willams said that for the 2023 to 2024 period, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) received 13,513 reports of child abuse and that 6,314 of these calls were made via the 211 distress hotline.

Williams said the hotline, which is a significant addition to the child protection system, was launched in May 2021 during Child Month three years ago and is manned 24 hours by child-care professionals.

In the meantime, the education minister said she is very encouraged with the efforts that the CPFSA makes to care for abused children who come into their care.

“The CPFSA continues to be the safety net for children who suffer all kinds of abuse. Under the guidance of a newly appointed chief executive officer, the CPFSA is demonstrating its capacity to respond to the various needs and calls for help,” she said.