Chad Bryan, Staff Reporter

Our children continue to be the victims of senseless crimes which need to end. Since the start of the year, more than 20 children from across the island have been killed by men. Some of these children were reportedly pregnant for older men.

One of the cases involves a 29-year-old man, who allegedly murdered a St Thomas teen, 14-year-old Kayalicia Simpson. This happened on February 3.

Another incident involves a businessman, who was the owner of a photo studio. He pleaded guilty to the death of 14-year-old Santoya Campbell. She was reportedly impregnated by her attacker.

The 37-year-old man, Cornelius Robinson, was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

There are numerous other incidents that could have been referenced here, but these ones tug at the emotions, as they were among the first to start out 2015.

It should be the responsibility of every Jamaican to report incidents of child abuse before they escalate into murder.

Child abuse includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

In 2013, it had been reported that though the awareness of child abuse is high, the reporting of these matters are low. This must change.

Parents need to play a greater role in ensuring that their children are safe. Listen to the way they talk, get involved in their lives and talk to friends and teachers. Be in the know.

A 15-year-old girl should never be staying with a 24-year-old man. The two were chopped to death at the man's home in the morning. The police are currently searching for the killer.

There are reports that the girl was to be visiting her father when she detoured. Following the increase in the number of child attacks and murders, child rights advocate Betty-Ann Blaine called on the Government to address the alarming plight gripping the nation's children and has urged them to make this a national priority.

She believes that a message needs to be sent to those who do our children harm, if we as a nation are serious about preventing further abuse to children.

The Office of the Children's Advocate said they welcomed the announcement recently made by the prime minister that the law would be amended for stiffer penalties for persons who murder pregnant girls.

If this is where we ought to go in order to put an end to the abuse of our children then this is where we need to go.