Jamaica's youth crime initiatives praised at regional meeting

The Ministry of National Security received high commendations at the recently concluded consultation on strategies to prevent youth crime and violence held in Panama from May 28-June 1.

The event saw youth leaders and major stakeholders from more than 30 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean coming together to share strategies to help solve the ever-growing problem in the region with youth being both victims and perpetrators of violent crimes.

Jamaica's representation at the consultation included Kemoy Lindsay, Commonwealth peace ambassador. Lindsay, the country coordinator for the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network, has called on the Government to continue the drive towards youth inclusion in the peace process.

"I am relieved to see that the Government appreciates the need to include youths in the process of peace building and not just as the cause of violence in our society. The Man up campaign also shows an appreciation and understanding of the need to protect women in our society from violent abuse in the household. This will, in turn, shield children from having to grow up in violent households and minimise the possibility of youth growing up and mimicking a life of violence and aggression."

SOCIAL INTERACTIONS

The youth leader said a peaceful home is "essential" in creating a peaceful society. "I implore families to practise proper conflict resolution from within the home, which will translate to children and youth being better able to manage conflicts and anger. A child that grows up in a violent home may easily adopt a violent outlook on social interactions, the old mantra rings true: 'children will live what they learn'".

The consultation was attended by more than 60 youth leaders and was aimed at creating a detailed strategic document for the United Nations which will serve as a resource tool for societies across the globe in their fight for youth inclusion in the reduction of crime and violence among youth.

The document is timetabled to be completed by December this year.

The event was put on by several bodies in the United Nations including UNWomen, United Nations Development Programme as well as the organisation of American States.