In a landmark step to advance the national child protection agenda, Jamaica’s Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), under the leadership of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MOESYI), has successfully championed the official designation of October 7 as National Anti-Bullying Day.
The proclamation, signed by His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, ON, GCMG, CD, Governor-General of Jamaica, reinforces the country’s collective resolve to confront bullying in all its forms and to protect the dignity and well-being of children and young people.
The declaration followed a formal request by the CPFSA with the endorsement of MOESYI, underscoring the vital partnership between both entities in addressing bullying as a matter of urgent national concern. It also signals Jamaica’s unified effort to tackle this pervasive issue in schools and communities while fostering kindness, empathy, and respect among citizens.
This groundbreaking initiative is being advanced by the National Anti-Bullying Technical Working Group, a multi-agency task force comprising the MOESYI, CPFSA, UNICEF, the National Secondary Students’ Council (NSSC), the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Together, these partners are working to create a coordinated and sustained national response to bullying, ensuring that planned interventions are both far-reaching and impactful.
Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. The Honourable Dana Morris Dixon, emphasised the importance of mobilisation:
“The proclamation is a milestone, but it is only the beginning. Through schools, parents, guidance counsellors, and community leaders, we will amplify the message across Jamaica that every child deserves to learn and grow in an environment free from fear. Together, we will build safer schools and stronger communities.” She further reiterated that “the helping service architecture in our schools have been activated as principals were reminded to prioritize the psychosocial activities in our schools, launch the psychosocial week, ensure HFLE is timetabled to teach the life skills whilst emphasizing the areas of conflict management, help-seeking behaviours; to expand or reactivate the peer counselling programme, parenting sessions and internal antibullying campaigns. Since 2022, The Ministry has engaged counselling psychologists, and psychotherapist to provide counselling and mental health support to our students, parents and school staff free of charge to augment the in-school counselling services. Principals are being reminded to ensure this support is accessed through the Regional Guidance Unit”.
Chief Executive Officer of the CPFSA, Mrs. Laurette Adams Thomas, hailed the proclamation as a defining moment for Jamaica’s children.
“This is more than just a symbolic day; it is a national call to action. Every act of bullying leaves scars—some visible, some invisible—that can last a lifetime. By dedicating a day each year to awareness and action, we are saying clearly and collectively that bullying has no place in our schools, in our communities, or in our society,” she said.
The MOESYI through CPFSA will begin leading a slate of anti-bullying activities across the island, that will continue throughout the academic year. Schools will host assemblies, workshops for Principals, Deans of Disciplines and Teachers, and other creative showcases to encourage empathy and positive peer relationships. A national art and essay competition is also being planned to allow students to directly engage in the movement. While communities will be engaged through outreach programmes for parents, caregivers, and local leaders; and the nation’s clergy will be invited to use their pulpits to reinforce messages of compassion and unity.
A national media campaign will also be undertaken to spread this important message across television, radio, and digital platforms, with a special focus on social media.
Mrs. Laurette Adams Thomas further stated that , “With the Governor-General’s proclamation, Jamaica now joins countries around the world that have enshrined national observances to combat bullying. This bold step reaffirms the nation’s collective responsibility to protect its children and signals to victims, perpetrators, and bystanders alike, that bullying is unacceptable and must end.”
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