THE Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) is reminding citizens that reporting child abuse is a legal mandate, even while warning that the rates of violence against children in Jamaica remain alarmingly high.

“Any person who has information which causes that person to suspect that a child has been, is being, or is likely to be abandoned, neglected, or physically or sexually ill-treated, or is otherwise in need of care and protection, shall make a report to the registry [National Children’s Registry],” said legal officer at the CPFSA Kimberly Blackwood-Martin, while referencing the Child Care and Protection Act.

She was speaking during a Zoom virtual meeting on assessing Jamaica’s child protection framework on Wednesday, where she urged citizens to take a more active role in protecting vulnerable children, arguing that the efforts of advocates, policies and legislation would not be enough to tackle the issue.