Adventists in Jamaica Pledge Zero Tolerance for Child Abuse

“We have zero tolerance toward incidents of violence, neglect, or abuse against children,” said Lorraine Vernal, Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents Ministries director of the Jamaica Union Conference (JUC), during a recent child protection workshop. “The Seventh-day Adventist Church is committed to creating a safe and nurturing environment for all children.”

Held in St. Ann March 24-26, the workshop, themed “Child Protection: A Godly Priority,” aimed to raise awareness about local laws, church policies, and strategies for protecting children. Vernal emphasized the church’s commitment to decisive action, saying, “We are decisive in taking action against an individual or group in any incidents of abuse by reporting to the police and other relevant authorities.”

The primary goal of the workshop was to equip church workers with the tools and knowledge needed to safeguard children. “Our objective is to establish child protection committees across all levels of the church by the end of 2025,” she added.

Addressing Child Neglect

Lesia Bhagwandat-Vassell, deputy registrar of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), highlighted the growing concern over child neglect. Although reports have shown a slight decrease in recent years, neglect remains the most frequently reported form of abuse in Jamaica, according to data from the National Children’s Registry (NCR). In 2024, neglect cases were 41.4 percent higher than sexual abuse cases and 33.6 percent higher than physical abuse cases.

“Neglect continues to be the most prevalent form of child abuse reported to CPFSA,” Bhagwandat-Vassell said. “We are concerned that many caregivers still fail to provide proper care, discipline, and supervision for their children.” Parents and guardians must be held accountable for their responsibilities including that children’s basic needs are met and receive proper care, she emphasized.

She urged leaders and members of society to work together to create a safer community for children.

Bhagwandat-Vassell outlined signs of neglect, including abandonment, unattended medical or hygiene needs, lack of supervision, and limited access to education. “We need creative strategies to ensure that responsible adults are adequately supervising children,” she said.

She also called on the Adventist Church to continue playing an active role in identifying and reporting abuse cases to the CPFSA, while implementing policies to ensure children’s safety.

Ongoing Efforts to Protect Children

Vernal reflected on the church’s efforts over the past seven years to protect children. Following the 2017 adoption of the Child Protection Committee policy by the Inter-American Division, JUC hosted a nationwide child protection policy implementation workshop. Since then, the union, conferences, and local churches have held a range of workshops, seminars, and training sessions for pastors, parents, teachers, and leaders.

Vernal stressed that child protection efforts are guided by the Child Protection Act of 2024 of Jamaica, with all cases needing to be reported to the appropriate authorities. “We’ve used platforms like May’s annual child month observances to raise awareness,” she said.

The church continues its collaboration with government agencies such as CPFSA, the Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR), and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Additional measures include designated reporting areas at camps and church events where children can safely voice concerns.

In schools the guidance department oversees child protection, with all staff members designated as mandatory reporters. “Every adult employed at a school is required by law to report any incidents of abuse,” Vernal said. “Principals serve as the chief reporting officers, ensuring cases are reported to the authorities, while schools promote awareness through workshops and seminars.”

The workshop also featured key presentations, including an overview of child protection policies, the ADRA child safeguarding policy, the psychological, emotional, and social effects of abuse on children, and the importance of data protection in safeguarding children.

The original version of this story was posted on the Inter-American Division news site.