For us, this is a tradition rooted in our commitment to celebrating ourchildren and standing in firm solidarity with them. Every year, we gather inthis sacred space to reflect and to remember. But more importantly, we recommitourselves to building a Jamaica where every child feels safe, seen, andsupported.

So, this is not just another calendar event for the KSAMC. It is a declaration. A declaration that the KSAMC sees the protection and well-being of our children as a priority. That their resilience matters. That their voices matter. And that their future is something we will defend with everything we have.

The hard truth is that too many of our children are hurting. And too many of our children have died tragically. This is why the KSAMC built this monument 17 years ago to honour their memory and to acknowledge our collective grief. 

In 2022 alone, over 15,000 reports of child abuse were brought to the attention of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA). That’s roughly 40 reports every single day. And those are ONLY the ones that get reported. Far too often, the abuse is hidden behind silence. 

The Violence Against Children and Youth Survey, released last year, gives us an even better picture. It tells us that more than 3 out of every 4 young people in Jamaica have experienced some form of violence in their lives. Let that sink in—three out of four.

Nearly 1 in 4 girls have been victims of sexual violence before even reaching adulthood. And boys are not untouched. Over 1 in 10 have endured the same horror. This compounds the fact that more than half of all boys and girls have experienced physical violence. And this is most time at the hands of those who should be protecting them.

This is more than a child protection issue. This is a national crisis. 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. 

And even when the wounds are deep and undeniable, too many children are still left to suffer in silence. Only 1 in 10 young people who have faced sexual violence have accessed professional help. One in 10! That data speaks volumes about the pain, as well as the breakdown in our systems of care. A breakdown in our trust and a breakdown in our reach.

But I stand here this evening with a message that cuts through this darkness: violence against children is preventable. And more importantly—it is unacceptable.

Every slap. Every insult. Every unwanted touch, and every moment a childis left to feel unsafe—it chips away at something sacred. And while we maylight candles tonight in remembrance, let them also burn as a signal. A signalthat we will act—and we will act now.

“Act Now: Stand Against ChildAbuse and Exploitation.” That is the theme of this year’s Child Month. It is not a suggestion. Itis a charge. A call to every parent, every teacher, every neighbour, everypolicymaker, 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.

Let me say this clearly: the Jamaican child is not a problem to be managed. The Jamaican child is a promise to be kept. A gift to be nurtured. Alight to be protected.

His Worship the Mayor of Kingston

Councillor Andrew A. Swaby, JP