Children at Risk: A review of sexual abuse incidents and child protection issues in Jamaica

Abstract The right of children to be protected from abuse is grounded in international law. Children should be free to enjoy their childhoods and to engage with their physical environment without fear for their safety. In recent years, girls and women in Jamaica have been targeted by men who rape and/or otherwise sexually assault them. This is without doubt, unacceptable. This article presents a qualitative review of girls' sexual molestation occurrence, the response of the Jamaican government and its agents and members of civil society. The article also calls on the government of Jamaica to act decisively in strengthening its legal mechanisms to deal with villains and also to act swiftly in providing support for victims and their families in an attempt to stem the tide of sexual violence and to assure society that they are in control.