Jamaica has officially declared today National Anti-Bullying Day, marking a major step in the country’s effort to address bullying as a matter of urgent national concern.

The initiative, proclaimed by the Governor-General, represents a unified national response led by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MOESYI) and the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA). It seeks to tackle bullying in schools and communities while promoting kindness, empathy, and respect among citizens.

The campaign is being coordinated by the National Anti-Bullying Technical Working Group, a multi-agency task force that includes 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).

Minister of Education, Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, described the proclamation as “a milestone, but only the beginning,” and urged continued mobilisation through schools, parents, guidance counsellors, and community leaders.

“Every child deserves to learn and grow in an environment free from fear,” she said. “Together, we will build safer schools and stronger communities.”

The Minister noted that schools have been instructed to prioritise psychosocial support and anti-bullying initiatives, including the launch of Psychosocial Week, the reactivation of peer counselling programmes, and the inclusion of conflict management and help-seeking behaviours in Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) lessons.

Since 2022, the Ministry has also engaged counselling psychologists and psychotherapists to provide free mental health support to students, parents, and staff. Principals are being reminded to access this support through the Regional Guidance Unit.

Chief Executive Officer of the CPFSA, Laurette Adams Thomas, hailed the declaration as a defining moment for Jamaica’s children.

“This is more than just a symbolic day; it is a national call to action,” she said. “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.”

Throughout the academic year, the CPFSA and MOESYI will lead a series of activities islandwide, including school assemblies, workshops for educators, and creative showcases promoting empathy and positive peer relationships. A national art and essay competition is also being planned, alongside community outreach programmes for parents and local leaders.

Faith leaders will also be invited to use their pulpits to reinforce messages of compassion and unity, while a national media campaign will share anti-bullying messages across television, radio, and digital platforms.

Adams Thomas noted that Jamaica now joins other countries that have established national observances to combat bullying, calling it “a bold step” that reaffirms the nation’s collective responsibility to protect its children.