PAIN & FEAR : We're in pain and fearful,children tell legislators...“A lot of children in Jamaica are dealing with a lot of pain.” Those were the words of 10-year-old Keino King

Seven-year-old Ngozi Wright gestures while expressing
 to parliamentarians yesterday the pain and trauma
that children are underoing due to violence
and abuse. (Photo: Michael Gordon)

BY KIMONE FRANCIS Senior staff reporter francisk@jamaicaobserver.com  Wednesday, November 20, 2019

“A lot of children in Jamaica are dealing with a lot of pain.”

Those were the words of 10-year-old Keino King, who yesterday, along with seven-year-old Ngozi Wright, her twin brother Tafari, and 18-year-old Shaneille Hall, addressed the nation's Parliament in an unprecedented session on violence against children, ahead of today's observation of the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

The UNCRC is a legally binding international agreement setting out the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities.

Ten-year-old Keino King asks legislators in
Parliament yesterday what are doing to break
 the cycle of children being bullied,
beaten, sexually and emotionally
abused and murdered.

Together, the four youngsters painted a grim picture before legislators of the reality of scores of children across the country, 46 of whom were murdered last year. Already, 41 have been killed between January 1 and November 14 this year, according to UNICEF Jamaica. One out of four students aged 13-15 is bullied, while one in four adolescent girls have experienced sexual violence.

“Our fear is based on the heartbreaking reality [that] many of us are being bullied. Many of us are being beaten. Many of us are being sexually and emotionally abused, and we are being murdered. This violence started in the days of slavery and to this day it continues. So I ask you, what are you doing to help break the cycle?” Keino asked. more