Teen boys charged for sexually assaulting schoolgirl, says CPFSA

By Racquel Porter    

 

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) says the teen boys seen in a video sexually assaulting a schoolgirl have been charged.

 

CPFSA says they have been charged with several offences including rape, forcible abduction, knowing and producing child pornography and distributing child pornography.

 

The video, which began circulating on social media late last week, shows the 13-year-old girl being physically abused, while being sexually assaulted by the boys.

 

The CPFSA says investigations revealed that the group of male students allegedly lured the schoolgirl to a house, where she was sexually assaulted, and the act recorded.

 

Head of the CPFSA Laurette Adams-Thomas says the agency has intervened in the matter and is providing psychological intervention for the teenage girl. 

 

"Our investigating team located the young girl and her family and met with them on Sunday, November 24th and provided brief counselling. The child was referred to the Victim Services Division for additional support and she's also to receive a medical assessment today, Monday [November] 25th, and we will continue to work with the family through our Children and Family Support Unit," she said. 

 

Mrs. Adams Thomas condemned the assault of the girl, noting that these "maladaptive behaviours in schools and communities must not be condoned, and we must teach our boys that masculinity is not synonymous with abuse". 

 

 

In responding to the incident, Stewart Jacobs, President of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ), has joined the call for additional guidance counsellors in schools.

 

Lamenting on the video that has sparked outrage, Mr. Jacobs said for some students, school is their only safe space, but this is being eroded. 

 

Speaking with Radio Jamaica News on Monday, Mr. Jacobs urged the Minister of Education to request additional funding to hire more guidance counsellors.

 

"Instead of having a school of 1,900 students with two guidance counsellors, and in some cases, one guidance counsellor, you break it down to at least one guidance counsellor for...every 30 students...because our society is being bombarded with social media which is teaching our children these types of behaviours. Our music is also teaching these type of behaviour, on the corners, the adults [are] teaching this type of behaviour, and so our children are confused. Our children are misguided," he argued.    

 

Mr. Stewart encouraged parents and guardians to engage in moral and ethical discussions with their children, explain to them right and wrong, as well as the consequences of wrong actions. 

 

"These boys are going to face criminal charges and this young lady is going to be facing a trauma that will stay with her for the rest of her life. She's going to be scarred by it, unfortunately, and they, too, are going to be scarred by it," he lamented.