National Workshop for the validation of the National Plan of Action for an Integrated Response to Children and Violence (NPACV)

National Workshop for the validation of the National Plan of Action for an Integrated Response to Children and Violence (NPACV)

The National Workshop for the validation of the National Plan of Action for an Integrated Response to Children and Violence (NPACV) was held in Kingston, Jamaica on October 14, 2011 in the framework of the project “Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Children and Adolescents in the Inter-American System (Project IIN-ACDI)” sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

More than 43 people from various governmental and nongovernmental institutions attended the National Workshop. The authorities present at the event were: Mr. Easton Williams, Director of Social Policy, Planning and Research Division, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ); Ms. Carla Francis-Edie, Executive Director, Child Development Agency (CDA) and Principal Delegate of Jamaica to the Directing Council of the IIN; Ms. Andrea Shepherd-Steward, Manager, Multilateral Technical Cooperation Unit, PIOJ; Mr. Newton Douglas, Director Policy Planning & Evaluation Division, CDA and the Technical Liaison of Project IIN-ACDI in Jamaica; and Ms. Paulina Fernández, Director Areas and Projects, Head of the IIN Delegation.

The objective of the National Workshop was to review and validate the National Plan of Action and to present the “Institutional Framework for the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan”, included in the National Plan of Action.

During the National Workshop, the National Plan of Action was presented by various national stakeholders and the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan was introduced, including the indicators. Concurrent group sessions were then conducted to discuss the five main outcomes contained in the National Plan of Action.

The groups reviewed the indicators for each outcome, taking into consideration the prioritization in the “Institutional Framework for the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan”. The results of the Workshop will be incorporated into the National Plan of Action. Based on the dialogue generated by the authorities on “Institution Framework for the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan”, specific lines of actions were defined for the conclusion of the National Plan of Action and the presentation of the Plan to the National Cabinet for future implementation.

This Plan of Action is one of the tangible outputs arising from the commitment of the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) and key stakeholders aimed at creating and maintaining a protective environment, supportive of and responsive to the issues of children and violence. Moreover, this Plan demonstrates Jamaica´s commitment to fulfilling its legal obligations with respect to children´s rights and protection under the various international instruments and protocols including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the American Convention on Human Rights.