From left, Junor, Taylor, Goffe, and Milbourn
Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter
THE REPORT on the review of children's homes in Jamaica, which Prime Minister P. J. Patterson had mandated in December, will be presented to the the Cabinet at its next sitting.
The Ministry of Health said yesterday that Minister John Junor will be presenting the report, and that a press briefing will be held afterwards where the Minister and senior officials of the Ministry will be available to discuss the findings.
The Ministry's release follows closely on a special report accusing the Government of failing to protect children from sexual and other forms abuse in local children's homes and places of safety. That report was turned over to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).
WILL BE STUDIED
The report, prepared by human rights lobby group, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), was on Thursday handed to Susana Villaran, the IACHR's special rapporteur on child rights, who was in the island for a two-day child rights workshop, organised by the Commission.
Speaking with The Sunday Gleaner late Friday night, Mrs. Villaran said she has received the report and met with JFJ on Friday.
She said the information will be studied but JFJ has to submit a request asking the IACHR to issue "concrete precautionary measures".
The measures of quick protection are usually recommended by the IACHR in cases where any delay in changing a situation can cause irreparable harm to those involved.
The major case in the report is that of a seven-year-old boy in state care, who was allegedly sexually abused repeatedly while in two children's homes but who, it is alleged, is not receiving adequate psychological care.
The JFJ report said the boy is traumatised and cannot resist urges to masturbate publicly, have sex with animals, other children and adults.
"They will ask us to give precautionary measures to this case. We have all the information we need and we need to study if we have a case for precautionary measures," Mrs. Villaran said.
If the commission agrees, it is likely to recommend that the state protects the victims and, in the case of the boy, to give him all the care he needs, she added.
AWARE OF REPORT
Sunday Gleaner reports on tales of bestiality, ill-treatment and molestation in state homes and places of safety led to the Government setting up a four-member commission to review these facilities in January.
Special Envoy for Children, Marjorie Taylor, said she was aware of the boy's case and that he was seeing child psychologist, Dr. Pauline Milbourn, and is now with foster parents.
She said Ministry officials were aware of the JFJ report but have not seen it and could not comment until officials get a copy of the report and reviewed it.
The JFJ report blasted Government for its "half-hearted" efforts to protect children and gives details of abuse.
JFJ accused Government of standing "idly by while vulnerable and powerless children have been abused by staff in places of safety and children's homes and had their fundamental rights denied."
It alleged that Government had violated sections of the UN Convention on the rights of the child and suggested indirectly the Government appeared to be hiring, protecting or ignoring child molesters and other abusers in children's homes and places of safety.
No one has been criminally charged for abuse in homes despite numerous allegations, among them 23 child sexual abuse, neglect, maltreatment and endangerment allegations given to top police officials by an abused child's former foster mother in 2002, the report alleged.
PUTTING 'FINISHING TOUCHES'
Ambassador Taylor said that she could not comment on the 23 cases until she read the report but in response to questions on whether anyone has ever been criminally charged for sexually assualting these children, she said, "Remember the Prime Minister has ordered a review and we are awaiting the results of that review."
In addition, while speaking at the child's rights function on Thursday, Ambassador Taylor said Government is writing a plan of action for children and youth.
At the same function, Justice Minister, A.J. Nicholson, said that Government was putting "finishing touches" on various child protection and development legislations including the Child Care and Protection Act.
He warned though, that the enactment of laws will only work if there is administrative will and if people are willing to report wrongdoings. The Government cannot take action unless it knows what is happening, he said.
"Too often, there is a deafening silence among persons who, hearing the cries of our children, are inclined to dismiss them with the thought that 'I don't want to interfere...' It must be made known that we cannot be reticent in being whistle blowers in this regard," he said.
But Susan Goffe, a JFJ member, greeted Mr. Nicholson's announ-cements with skepticism.
"The agencies of Government need to take a very careful look at themselves because, in particular, with the abuse inflicted upon children in children's homes and places of safety, information has been given to agencies and individuals within the Government, to the highest levels and the response has been less than forthcoming. It raises the real issue of the words they say and their actions," she said.
