Street Children
The current figures for the number of children living and working on the streets of Jamaica are still not known, . But according to Robert Fuderich, country representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Jamaica needs to try something bigger than the patchwork interventions that have been tried before in addressing the issue.
"Investing in children in street situations is essential to building a society that builds human dignity," said Fuderich, who was speaking recently at a conference on children who live and work on the streets of Jamaica, held at the Knutsford Court hotel. |
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He said that if nothing is done to address the matter, there will be an increase in the number of children turning to the streets for their survival.
"Children who live on the street generally increase during times of economic insecurity and as we head into rough waters we will see an increase if nothing is done," Fuderich told the gathering of local and international organisations and individuals.
"Children who live on the street generally increase during times of economic insecurity and as we head into rough waters we will see an increase if nothing is done," Fuderich told the gathering of local and international organisations and individuals.
"Each of the children living and working on the street have a different story and we have to be talking more to these children," . "Most of them face a multiplicity of deprivation and violations of their rights. Some go to school, some don't, some have dropped out, some have never attended, some have medical illnesses, some have mental illnesses, some have a home to go to, some have no home, some have parents, some have no parents, some are sexually victimised, some have been thrown out of their house because of their sexual orientation, some are deemed uncontrollable and go between remand centres, detention centres and the streets," he stated.
Children's advocate for Jamaica, Diahann Gordon Harrison said that thousands of children are not afforded their rights — rights to education, health, leisure, rest and play — because they spend hours on the streets many times being exploited by others.
Children's advocate for Jamaica, Diahann Gordon Harrison said that thousands of children are not afforded their rights — rights to education, health, leisure, rest and play — because they spend hours on the streets many times being exploited by others.