The Government of Jamaica has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s children by advancing stronger legislation and institutional frameworks to confront the growing threat of online exploitation.
Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security and Peace, the Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, underscored that child protection must extend beyond the physical environment into the digital spaces where children increasingly learn, connect and grow.
“The protection of children is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of any society. Every child has the right to grow, learn and develop in an environment that is safe and free from exploitation and abuse,” Minister Cuthbert-Flynn said, as part of a virtual Roundtable on “Combating Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Jamaica” on Wednesday (June 10).
The virtual roundtable, organised by the US Embassy in Kingston and facilitated by the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), brought together local and international stakeholders in child protection and safety.
Minister Cuthbert-Flynn emphasised that though technology has created opportunities for education, creativity and communication, it has also opened avenues for exploitation of the nation’s children.
Digital grooming, she noted, coercion and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images are among the threats that can lead to real-world victimization and lifelong trauma.
“For today’s children, there is no separation between their digital lives and their actual lives. Our response cannot treat online offenses as a separate issue from child protection more broadly,” the state minister added.
The Minister highlighted that Jamaica has strengthened its national response through the Ananda Alert system, which coordinates efforts relating to missing children and emerging risks. Between 2020 and 2025, 989 children were reported missing, with 826 safely returned.
Additionally, she noted that vulnerabilities linked to social media and online communication demand urgent legislative action, which Jamaica has begun to take.
Recent amendments to Jamaica’s cybercrime framework now impose stronger penalties for offenses committed against children, including the misuse of technology to create or distribute harmful content. These measures complement existing laws such as the Trafficking in Persons Act, which reinforce the responsibility of citizens and institutions to act when children are at risk.
“These amendments send a clear message. The exploitation of children, whether physical or digital, will not be tolerated in Jamaica,” Minister Cuthbert-Flynn affirmed.
She stressed that legislation alone cannot solve the problem. Effective child protection requires partnerships among parents, schools, technology companies, law enforcement, civil society and international allies.
Jamaica has already benefitted from collaborations such as the Jamaica-US Child Protection Compact Project, which has served to strengthen systems to support child victims and survivors of trafficking.
“Our children deserve a digital environment where they can learn and grow safely. Protecting them required not just awareness but informed, sustained action,” the state minister noted.
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