VPA launches campaign to end violence against children

The Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) has launched an INSPIRE Strategy campaign in 12 schools across the island.

Elizabeth Ward, chair of the VPA, said the campaign will specifically target the schools that emerged parish champions in its 2018 Trees for Peace Competition.

“These schools will be asked to create a campaign on the INSPIRE Strategy, which is aimed at ending violence against children,” she said.

Ward explained that the INSPIRE Strategy, which is an initiative of the World Health Organization, identifies a select group of strategies that have shown success in reducing violence against children.

“These strategies include the implementation and enforcement of laws, norms and values; safe environments; parent and caregiver support; income and economic strengthening; response and support services; and education and life skills,” she explained.

The VPA will work with the selected schools through targeted workshops that will guide them in the development of their respective campaigns. The workshops will be conducted in the parishes of St Mary, St Catherine, St James, and Manchester. Following this, the four best campaigns will be selected and promoted.

“These workshops will give the teachers and students a comprehensive overview of the INSPIRE Strategy, and the information gained from the workshops will enable the schools to develop impactful campaigns to convey messages of the strategy,” she said.

The INSPIRE Strategy’s vision is to encourage all governments, with the strong participation of civil society and communities, to routinely implement and monitor interventions to prevent and respond to violence against all children and adolescents and help them reach their full potential.