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Kenniesha Burrell: Our Silence Is Killing Us: A Cry for Women and Children in Jamaica

 The Pain We Carry

Being a woman in Jamaica often means surviving violence in many forms: physical, emotional, mental, and sexual. It means hiding bruises, swallowing pain, and enduring in silence. It means walking around with wounds that never fully heal—wounds that no one sees, because we're taught to pretend we are strong.

I know this pain intimately. I too have been sexually and physically abused. And while I may smile on the outside, inside I carry the weight of everything I’ve endured.

Every day, women are murdered—many by people they once trusted. They are not just statistics; they are mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends. They are real. They are loved. And they are gone.

According to The Gleaner, 619 women were murdered in Jamaica between 2019 and 2023—an average of 124 women per year. "Females Nuh Safe In Jamaica Again", Jamaica Gleaner, Nov. 2024.

Our Children Are Disappearing

Our children are going missing at an alarming rate. The numbers are staggering. And still, not enough is being done.

According to a January 31, 2024 article in The Gleaner, 1,027 children were reported missing in 2023. Of that number, 151—133 girls and 18 boys—are still missing. "151 Children Who Went Missing Last Year Still Not Found", Jamaica Gleaner.

These children are our future. They are not just photos on missing posters—they are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. Many families are still searching, still hoping, and still praying for answers that may never come.

Organizations like Hear the Children’s Cry have taken steps to bring awareness to this issue, but they cannot do it alone. Visit www.hearthechildrencryja.com to learn more or get involved.

Where Can We Turn for Help?

For those who have survived abuse, support sometimes feels unreachable. But there are organizations here in Jamaica that offer real help:

  • Woman Inc. – Offers a 24-hour crisis hotline, counseling, shelter, and advocacy for victims of domestic and sexual abuse.
    Website: www.womanincja.org
    Hotline: (876) 929-2997
  • Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) – Protects children from abuse and neglect.
    Phone: (876) 948-2841
  • Jamaicans for Justice – Provides legal support and human rights advocacy.
    Phone: (876) 755-4524
  • Domestic Violence Intervention Centres – Operated by the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Offers guidance and intervention.
    Visit: jcf.gov.jm/domestic-violence-intervention-centers

If you or someone you know is being abused, please reach out. Help is available.

A Plea to Our Government

To the leaders of this country: we are dying. Our women and children are being taken from us. The violence is relentless, and the silence is deadly.

We are begging you—step in. Fund shelters. Support trauma centers. Educate communities. Enforce laws. Speed up the justice system. Treat every lost life as if it matters—because it does.

To Those Grieving

To anyone who has lost a mother, sister, aunt, daughter, or child to violence: we see you. We feel your pain. We grieve with you.

To the child who only knows their mother from a photograph. To the woman who will never hear her daughter’s laugh again. To the grandmother lighting a candle for her missing granddaughter—you are not forgotten.

You are loved. You are strong. And you are not alone.

You Matter

If you are being abused, silenced, or afraid—this message is for you:

You matter. Your life matters. You have the right to be safe, to be heard, and to be free from fear.

Speak up. Reach out. And never let anyone make you feel less than worthy.

Resources – Where to Get Help

Woman Inc.
Crisis Hotline: (876) 929-2997
Website: www.womanincja.org

Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA)
Phone: (876) 948-2841

Jamaicans for Justice
Phone: (876) 755-4524
Website: Jamaicans for Justice

JCF Domestic Violence Intervention Centres
Website: JCF Domestic Violence Centres

Hear the Children’s Cry
Website: www.hearthechildrencryja.com

Final Words

This article is for every woman and child who didn’t survive to tell their story. For every survivor who carries the weight of silence. For every grieving heart that beats with pain. And for those of us who are still here—fighting, healing, hoping—we will not be quiet.

Together, we rise.


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