As a child you must know your rights!

(Western Cape Government, 2019).

Are you under the age of 18 and is a Jamaican citizen? Do you feel like to have the right to know your rights?
If your answer is yes then this blog is definitely for you. A child is considered Under the Child Care and Protection Act 2004 (section 2 subsection 1) to be any person under the age of eighteen. It is of great importance that every child has an understanding as to their rights within Jamaica.

In accordance to UNICEF (2014) a child has the right to:
1. Good health care: which means that once a child is sick they must be take to get medical treatment, if they are not at least once a year they must attend to a medical facility for care.
2. To be protected from abuse and harm: children must be in a safe environment free from physical, emotional, psychological, and neglect.
3. To a quality education: which means every child must attend an institution once they are under the age of eighteen.
4.To be seen and heard: in a Jamaican society we tend to isolate children from taking, but they have the right to be seen and hear within society.
5. To take part in the decision making in home. school, community and country: in family discussion children have a say and any other discussions based on their right (UNICEF, 2014).

Under the CHILD CARE AND PROTECTION Act 2014
Section 2 subsection (2)Where there is a reference in this Act to the best interest of a child, the factors to be taken into account in
determining the child’s best interests shall include-
(a) the safety of the child;
(b) .the child’s physical and emotional needs and level of
development;
(c) the importance of continuity in the child’s care;

CHILD CARE AND PROTECTION
(d) the quality of the relationship the child has with a
parent or other person and the effect of maintaining that relationship;
(e) the child’s religious and spiritual views;
(f) the child’s level of education and educational
requirements;
(g) whether the child is of sufficient age and maturity so as
to be capable of forming his or her own views and, if
so, those views are to be given due weight in
accordance with the age and maturity of the child;
(h) the effect on the child of a delay in making a
decision (The Child Care and Protection Act, 2004)

Click this link for more information on your right as a child in Jamaica https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=know+your+right+as+a+child+in+jamaica&&view=detail&mid=52C09477052A4D813A3152C09477052A4D813A31&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dknow%2Byour%2Bright%2Bas%2Ba%2Bchild%2Bin%2Bjamaica%26FORM%3DHDRSC3

  • (Rockingham CCC, 2019).

Reference