Jamaica group demands support for family of murdered 10-year-old girl, cites child sexual violence rates

The PNP Women's Movement has demanded immediate psycho-social support for the grieving family and community of 10-year-old Shani Coke, whose body was discovered with her throat slashed in Trelawny, Jamaica. The group expressed deep concern over the incident, which has "rocked" the local population.

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The people of Troy and the wider Trelawny have been rocked by this incident. We must stand with them as we navigate this time of extreme grief.

In a press release on Thursday, the movement's vice president for Trelawny, Shaneen Roberts, stated, "The people of Troy and the wider Trelawny have been rocked by this incident. We must stand with them as we navigate this time of extreme grief." The organization also condemned the community's recourse to "jungle justice," emphasizing the need for greater public trust in the swift and fair administration of justice.

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It is unfortunate that the community resorted to ‘jungle justice’ in response. As a country we need to do more to gain the confidence of the population so that they will know that justice will prevail and swiftly without having to take things into their own hands.

The PNP Women's Movement called for a strengthened resolve to ensure safe communities for children, citing a 2023 UNICEF survey that revealed 23.7% of girls and 11.7% of boys in Jamaica experience sexual violence during childhood. The group urged this tragedy to serve as a critical turning point, preventing other families from enduring similar losses.

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We also need to examine and strengthen our resolve to create safe communities for our children. A UNICEF survey done in 2023 indicates that 23.7 per cent of our girls and 11.7 per cent of our boys experience sexual violence as children. This must be a turning point.