THE Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) said Wednesday that it was horrified and deeply saddened by the murder of 10-year-old Shani Coke, whose body was found in the community of Troy in Trelawny, Tuesday.

The agency said the tragic loss of another child is a devastating reminder that far too many of Jamaica’s children continue to face unimaginable acts of violence at the hands of adults who should instead be focused on their care and protection. It further maintained that every child has the right to grow up in a safe, nurturing environment where they are protected, valued, and given the opportunity to realise their full potential.

Chief executive officer of the CPFSA Laurette Adams Thomas said the agency mourns with the child’s family and the wider community as they grapple with this heartbreaking tragedy.

“There are simply no words that can lessen the pain of this tragedy. This 10-year-old child should have been given the opportunity to fulfil her dreams; her parents should have been given the chance to see her graduate from primary school, from university, to see her walk down the aisle. Instead, she was made to become a statistic, another victim of unspeakable violence. We cannot continue to accept these horrific acts as a normal part of our society. Every time a child is abused or murdered, we fail in our collective duty to protect those who depend on us most,“ Adams Thomas said.

She further stated that the tragedy must also serve as a national call to action and urged every Jamaican to reject the culture of violence against children and instead embrace our shared responsibility to safeguard their well-being.

“This must be a turning point for Jamaica. We must cultivate an environment where the protection of our children is an immediate priority transcending the rhetoric that simply designates them as the future. Every child is precious, every life has immeasurable value, and every adult has a responsibility to intervene, to report abuse, to speak up and to act. If we truly believe that our children are our greatest asset, then our actions must begin to reflect those words,“ she said.

She added that jungle justice, however, is not the appropriate form of intervention, and is not supported by the CPFSA.

The agency confirmed that its first responders are on the ground conducting investigations to determine whether there are other children connected to the family whose safety and well-being require immediate intervention. These officers are also assessing the psychosocial needs of the victim’s family and stand ready to provide the necessary support during this unimaginably difficult time, it said.

The CPFSA said it continues to work closely with the Jamaica Constabulary Force as investigations progress, and urges anyone with information that may assist the investigation to cooperate fully with the police.