The Government of Jamaica in partnership with its American counterpart are opening another child-friendly space.

This latest space is being opened yesterday (Friday August 18) at the Victim Services Branch (VSB) office, on Caledonia Road, Mandeville, under the US-Jamaica Child Protection Compact Partnership. 

A child-friendly space is an environment designed to help children, who are victims of crime to feel safe, calm, and comfortable while interacting with professionals, including law enforcement officers, social workers, healthcare professionals and, prosecutors.

The first child-friendly space under the partnership was launched in Portland in January 2023. At the Manchester opening of the latest child-friendly space, Justice Minister, Minister Delroy Chuck and United States Embassy Kingston Charge d’Affaires, Amy Tachco will deliver opening remarks.

In attendance will be Custos Rotulorum for Manchester Garfield Green and Central Manchester MP Rhoda Moy Crawford, who will both bring greetings.

Both governments signed the CPC agreement in 2018, as a four-year plan to build on and strengthen Jamaica’s existing efforts in the identification, provision of comprehensive trauma-informed care, prosecution and conviction as well as prevention of child trafficking in all its forms.

One of the implementing partners, Warnath Group seeks to build the capacity of Jamaican law enforcement and victim service providers to increase the level of victim-centered care, which is appropriate and tailored to the needs of the victims.

As part of their initiative, the Warnarth Group selected the VSB to partner with to provide child-friendly spaces in three parish offices, Manchester, Portland, and St James.