Mr. Malike Kellier (left), Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, moderates an expert panel discussion on child protection systems with (l–r) Mrs. Keisha Rodriguez-Mills, Director of Investigations, Inspections and Compliance at the Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA); Dr. Warren Thompson, Director of Intake, Investigation and Court Services, Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA); Inspector Florence Clarke, sub-officer attached to the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA); and Miss Georjean Edwards-Fullerton, Attorney-at-Law, during the UTech, Jamaica Real Issues, Real Talk Series on May 28, 2026 at the university’s Papine Campus.
Although statistics from the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) indicate that more than 4,000 children were sexually abused between January and March 2026, child protection experts and youth advocates are concerned that many incidents of abuse still go unreported because of fear, stigma and public mistrust of reporting mechanisms and processes.
The concern was raised during the staging of the Real Issues, Real Talk Series, hosted by the College of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies at the University of Technology, Jamaica on May 28. The national dialogue, which sought to raise awareness of child sexual abuse, was held under the theme, “Strengthening the System: Protecting Our Children from Child Sexual Abuse in Jamaica.”
The forum brought together experts from academia, child protection, law enforcement, healthcare, the legal profession, the clergy, and the media to explore strategies for eliminating these offences and to examine systemic challenges associated with under-reporting.
Delivering greetings at the event, Dr. Henry Lewis, Acting Vice-Dean, Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies, UTech, Jamaica, noted that child sexual abuse requires intervention from all sectors, including academia. “We have a responsibility to educate, to advocate, to research, and to lead conversations that promote justice, healing and systemic improvement,” he stated.
Reinforcing the urgency of the issue, Professor Adella Campbell, Dean, College of Health Sciences, stated, “More than three in four Jamaican children and youth have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, while one in three girls and one in five boys have been victims of sexual violence.” Arguing that these figures are alarming, Professor Campbell emphasized that greater action must be taken to protect the nation’s children.
Barriers to Eliminating Child Sexual Abuse
During an expert panel discussion, Dr. Warren Thompson, Director of Intake, Investigation and Court Services at the CPFSA, noted, “Children do not want to report because they believe if they report, the CPFSA is going to come in and remove them from the home and then there is the other fear…they don’t want their parents to get in trouble.”
He explained that critical procedural gaps, such as the “absence of a forensic interviewing protocol”, also contribute to the trauma children experience when navigating the legal system.
Pointing to early breakdowns in cases, Inspector Florence Clarke, sub-officer attached to the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA), stated that sometimes parents are reluctant to take their child in to make a report, while in other instances the child may not be able to communicate what transpired.
In extreme cases of silencing, Jhanille Brooks, Counselling Psychologist, shared that victims are either threatened by abusers or feel discouraged by the negative outcomes they observe with others who report these crimes.
Notwithstanding these challenges, CPFSA’s Dr. Warren Thompson reminded the audience that adults are mandated by law to report child abuse.
“Failure to report child abuse carries penalties of up to $500,000, six months’ imprisonment, or both,” he warned.
Attorney-at-Law Mrs. Georjean Edwards-Fullerton stated that the best interests of the child must be prioritised. She called on authorities to provide child-friendly court environments for victims of child sexual abuse during judicial proceedings so that children will not have to relive traumatic ordeals while presenting their testimonies in court. Veteran journalist Mrs. Alicia Dunkley-Willis noted that media practitioners also have a role to play by maintaining emotional and ethical balance in their reporting of such matters.
Accountability Matters
On the matter of accountability, Mrs. Keisha Rodriguez-Mills, Director of Investigations, Inspections and Compliance at the Office of the Children’s Advocate, highlighted troubling patterns of offenders within the educational environment. “When we investigate, what we often find is that the teacher just resigns…moves to another school,” she stated, warning that “the problem does not end — it relocates.” To this end, Anglican priest and human rights advocate Father Sean Major-Campbell emphasised the need for accountability. “When we are not honest in the conversation, we do not help our children,” he said. “Wherever anyone is in breach of the law, the law must be called,” he asserted, noting that institutions must prioritise the child protection over reputation.
Mr. Dale Allen (left), Associate Educational Psychologist and Counsellor, UTech, Jamaica, moderates a youth panel discussion with (l–r) students: Natalia Burton, a social work student and member of the UNICEF Global Health Advisory Group; Dominic Sutherland, Chief Public Relations Officer, OCA Children’s Advisory Panel; Sherinae Brown, Chair, Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA) Children’s Advisory Panel; and Nathan Powell, Senior Prefect, Wolmer’s Trust High School for Boys.
Youth representatives also contributed critical perspectives to the discussion. Nathan Powell, Senior Prefect, Wolmer’s Trust High School for Boys, highlighted harmful societal gender norms, stating, “We have a fragmented idea of masculinity that pushes men and little boys not to speak up.” Meanwhile, social work student Natalia Burton, who is also a member of the UNICEF Global Health Advisory Group, stressed the importance of transparency, noting, “Young people need to know what is going to happen after they report…and feel confident that they will be protected and believed.”
Dominic Sutherland, a student at Ardenne High School and Chief Public Relations Officer of the OCA Children’s Advisory Panel, called on agencies to better empower young people to support one another. Sherinae Brown, Chair of the Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA) Children’s Advisory Panel, urged parents to listen to their children and create safe spaces for them to share anything that might be affecting them.
Co-convener of the event, Dr. Kenisha Nelson, Lecturer in the Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies, UTech, Jamaica, in her vote of thanks, commended the planning team, presenters, and attendees for their engagement. She noted that the participation of each person reflected a shared commitment to child protection in Jamaica.
Dr. Christine Frey presents an overview of her None in Three research and video game Gabby during the event, highlighting how research-driven gaming interventions can be used to prevent child sexual abuse and address gender-based violence among young people. Dr. Frey explained that Gabby is a culturally relevant pro-social video game featuring authentic Jamaican voices that follows the story of a 14-year-old girl who experiences grooming and sexual abuse by a trusted family member. The game’s development was informed by data from The None in Three Research Centre, an international initiative operating in Jamaica and several other countries that combines research, policy engagement, education, and innovative digital tools to promote prevention of gender-based violence.
Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: (876) 970-5299
Email: [email protected]
