Thread by @AndrewHolnessJM

#NashawnBrown #Thread
The case of Nashawn Brown, a promising 4-yr-old who was severely beaten by his stepdad has again brought to the fore the plight of our children who continue to face physical, sexual & emotional abuse from adults in their lives who are meant to protect them.

We continue to be horrified by reports of violent & cruel acts being meted out to children. This should not be tolerated. In the same way we have address and condemn other forms of violence, we must unequivocally, loudly & resolutely condemn violence against our children.

Physical abuse remains one of the main & overt forms of child maltreatment reported to the CPFSA National Children’s Registry (NCR). Each year, approximately 25-30% of reports received are for children who are victims of some form of physical violence.

For the first half of 2021, the NCR received 1,465 reports of physical abuse, representing 26% of the 5,561 reports of child maltreatment received during the period.

Domestic disputes appear to be a significant factor in the physical harm of children where we have had numerous reports of children being hurt as a result of fights between parents.

Increasingly, children and their families are exposed to violence which can have long-term devastating psychological impacts ranging from acute distress to more chronic emotional difficulties.

Studies show that there is a link between adverse childhood experiences through exposure to violence and ill health outcomes. Our children’s mental health is also impacted - they become depressed, anxious and display signs of post-traumatic stress disorder

It is important for us to have a conversation about the effects of corporal punishment. Children’s brains develop the most, in the first few years of life, mostly in the early childhood period, 0-6 years.

When we hug, love and reason with our children, we teach them how to love and care for others; their brains form the connections for love and care; it is called brain wiring. When we hurt our children, their brains form the connections for aggression and violence.

Unfortunately, in communities all across Jamaica, persons are aware of children being beaten and physically abused but do not report it. We need our communities to truly be the village that protects our children.

We have all the mechanisms for you as adults to report when our children are being hurt, to the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPSFA).

Children too can call SAFE SPOT which is exclusively for persons under eighteen years old at 888-SAFE-SPOT (888-723-3776 or DM safespotja on Instagram and Snapchat or on WhatsApp at 876-439-5199. It is an initiative of the OCA, PSOJ and UNICEF and is operated by the OCA.

In its research into causes of violence and mechanisms to prevent violence, the National Council on Violence Prevention (NCVP) has already highlighted corporal punishment as one of the critical preventive factors that we must address as a nation.

The CPFSA whose mandate is the care and protection of children at risk, continues to be our first line of defense in the care and protection of our children.The agency has been responding immediately to incidents of violence against our children through a first response system.

This system sees social workers visiting with families, providing counseling support, conducting needs assessments and creating an intervention plan with the hope that conflicts will be resolved in a more amicable manner and our children will be safeguarded.

We call on every Jamaican to stand up for our children; we need you to form a circle of care and protection around every child in our country.