Fatherless girls more likely to be abused - Bunting

National Security Minister, Peter Bunting says girls growing up without a father are nine times more likely to be sexually abused than those with a father in the home.

Bunting gave the statistics this morning as he commented on the impact of fatherlessness on children with regard to their life outcomes relating to violence.

He says this is why his ministry through its Unite For Change initiative has been holding parenting workshops as part of its crime prevention strategy.

The national security minister notes that 26 children have been killed since the start of the year.

He says there are many more children who are going through some kind of crisis.

Bunting was speaking against the background of the observation of Children’s Day across Jamaica today.