The non-governmental organisation – Fi We Children Foundation, has joined calls for the sex offenders registry to be made public, following the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl in the northern parish of Trelawny last week. Shani Coke in Trelawny.
The man accused of killing Shani Coke – Delroy Coke, was killed by angry residents.
It’s alleged that the man had a history of committing sexual assaults and had recently been released from prison.
In a statement, the foundation said making the registry public would allow parents, guardians, schools, child care institutions and communities to identify convicted sexual offenders living in their neighbourhoods and take appropriate steps to protect children.
The foundation said Coke’s death underscores the urgent need to strengthen Jamaica’s child protection system through legislative and policy reform.
It is calling for a comprehensive review of the child care and protection act to better safeguard children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
The foundation is also advocating stronger prevention and early intervention measures to identify children at risk, along with increased investment in child protection services, including investigations, victim support and community based prevention programmes.
“While Jamaica has enacted important child protection laws and policies, implementation remains a persistent challenge, adding that intervention too often comes only after a child has suffered irreparable harm,” the organisation noted.
In condemning acts of vigilante justice, the foundation said accountability must be pursued through the rule of law to ensure justice is served while protecting the integrity of criminal investigations.
The foundation also urged the media to carefully consider the ethical implications of publishing photographs of child victims, saying reporting should preserve the dignity of children and avoid causing further harm to grieving families.
Currently, the Sex Offenders Registry can only be accessed by certain categories of people.
These include the police, professional counsellors of the offenders, prospective employers and employees as well as relatives of the offenders, among others.
It’s managed by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS).
In May last year, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness disclosed that the government would review aspects of the sex offender registry to prioritise public safety over offender confidentiality.
Over the years, there’ve been repeated calls for the registry to be made public, with supporters of the call arguing that confidentiality protects perpetrators more than it safeguards potential victims.
Meanwhile – Children’s Advocate, Diahann Gordon Harrison has noted that Sani’s murder is a painful reminder of the grave danger posed by sexual predators.
In a statement, Gordon Harrison noted that the incident points to the collective responsibility of Jamaicans to protect children from abuse, exploitation and violence.
She also condemned the reported mob killing of the accused man. (CMC)
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