Silent protest
Students demand end to child abuse, urge youth to speak up for themselves
Published:Tuesday | May 6, 2025 | 10:13 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
“Stop killing us!” “Stop the abuse of our children!” “Help me grow in love, not fear.”
Armed with their placards bearing poignant and powerful messages, several youngsters from different uniformed groups stood in silent protest, hoping that their messages would not fall on deaf ears as the nation observes Child Month.
The youngsters’ protest was part of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation’s (KSAMC) annual Child Month Candlelight Vigil, held at the Secret Gardens Monument in downtown Kingston, to honour the memory of children who have died under tragic or violent circumstances.
Danielle Willis, a 15-year-old Camperdown High student whose message was about putting an end to child abuse, expounded further.
“We should stop all crimes altogether because the children are our future.
“If we are hurting our future, who is going to be our next doctors, nurses, lawyers? Who is going to help us in the future to maintain a good environment?” she asked.
“So we should stop abusing, killing, and hurting our children and people altogether.”
Willis also called for more support for children, even those who are seen as wayward.
“Pray for us,” she said.
Another participant, Asan Anderson, a 15-year-old St Jago High student, expressed similar sentiments.
“Please leave the youth alone, because they will be taking over after you are all old and frail,” he said.
Anderson, who two years ago lost his friend as a result of gang violence and recalled feeling depressed for a couple of days, called for stricter penalties for child killers.
Meanwhile, Richard Kluvi, head boy at Wolmer’s Boys’ School, urged his peers to champion the changes that they would like to see for themselves and get involved.
“As much as the youth are undermined, they have to speak up for themselves as well, advocate for their rights. Join advocacy groups and use your voices for good,” he said.
Tyrone Smith, Calabar High head boy, said, “My message to everyone this Child Month is that child safety and development is not just a parent’s problem, it’s a national problem. It’s a problem that we all, as citizens, should take heed of and play our part to protect our children.”
Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby, in his remarks, emphasised that child abuse in Jamaica is no longer just a societal issue, but a national crisis.
He said that this year’s theme, ‘Act Now: Stand Against Child Abuse and Exploitation’, called for immediate action in light of the growing crisis.
Swaby outlined alarming statistics that underscored the urgency of the situation, citing more than 15,000 child abuse reports received by the Child Protection and Family Services Agency in 2022 alone — an average of 40 cases a day.
The Violence Against Children and Youth Survey, he said, revealed even more troubling findings, with nearly three out of four children having experienced some form of violence.
“The violence is not only in our homes. It’s in our communities. It’s in our schools. One in three boys says he is aware of gang activity in his school. One in four girls says the same,” the mayor shared.
He also pointed to the fact that many young victims suffer in silence, noting that only one in 10 children who have experienced such trauma ever receive professional assistance. He called for better support systems and encouraged Jamaicans to speak out and act decisively to protect children from harm.
Swaby also reaffirmed the KSAMC’s commitment to child protection, declaring that the safety and well-being of children would always be a top priority for the city. He emphasised that the vigil was more than a ceremonial event; it was a call to action for the entire nation to act in solidarity.
“The theme of this year’s Child Month. It is not a suggestion. It is a charge. A call to every parent, every teacher, every neighbour, every policymaker, and yes, every leader — including myself.
“We must act in the classroom. We must act in our churches, our clinics, our courts — building networks of trust and response. We must act in our homes. We must create safer communities,” he said.
Swaby also stressed that every child deserves not just protection, but dignity, and that Jamaica must ensure every child feels seen, heard, and supported.