The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, is calling on the government to provide the necessary financial and technical investment in the Child Protection System to ensure that the rights of all children are protected at all times.
UNICEF was responding to the findings of the Office of the Children’s Advocate’s report on the relationship between the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, CPFSA, and Carl Robanske.
It says the Convention on the Rights of the Child states that young people have the right to special protection and help from the State if they are temporarily or permanently deprived of their family environment.
According to UNICEF, in many countries around the world, including Jamaica, girls and boys in care and justice institutions are at heightened risk of abuse, exploitation, and neglect.
UNICEF believes that strengthening the operations and accountability of the Child Protection System in Jamaica is critical to safeguarding children from the full spectrum of risks.
The agency says there’s critical need for greater government investment in the system.
UNICEF further called on the government to seriously examine the findings in the OCA report along with the evaluation of the sector.
