Child diversion programme receives $10m boost from UNICEF

KINGSTON, 10 December 2020 - The Ministry of Justice's Child Diversion Programme recently received additional support from long-standing partner UNICEF, with a grant of just over $10 million.

This latest agreement between the two entities was formalised at a signing ceremony held at the Ministry of Justice on December 9. At the ceremony, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck commended UNICEF for its continued support of the programme since its inception in 2014.

The Minister described the Child Diversion programme as “one of the great successes of the Ministry of Justice” and thanked UNICEF for being present every step of the way. “149 children have already been referred to the programme, and we expect that more will be referred in due course,” he revealed.

Addressing the proceedings, UNICEF Country Representative for Jamaica Mariko Kagoshima shared UNICEF’s satisfaction with the programme’s success since it started accepting referrals earlier this year. Kagoshima indicated that the programme has made a difference in the lives of the boys and girls who were diverted by police officers and judges away from unnecessary incarceration and in some instances away from court appearances.

“The Child Diversion programme exemplifies Jamaica’s commitment to the “Leave No One Behind” principle of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,” she said.

The funds will be used to provide technical support; develop a monitoring and evaluation framework; fund public education and support psychosocial interventions where children need counselling for substance abuse and sexual reproductive health.