There have been mixed views aired by society about the use of children in political campaigns and election-related activity. While the inclusion of children in the democratic exercise of election is seen as a positive thing in some countries, the use of them in the domestic situation is frowned upon by some.

Last week, a video surfaced of several children being used in a door-to-door election campaign by one of the leading Presidential candidate’s supporters. While little is known about the nature of the participation of children, be it with or without their parents and or legal guardians, the video has triggered several organisations to lodge complaints with child safety and wellbeing regulators and the Election Commission as well.

Yesterday, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) stated that they have initiated investigations into reports of children being used for Election campaign propaganda work during the Presidential Election. This according to the NCPA Director General Anoma Siriwardena. Speaking to The Daily Morning, she stated that the NCPA's legal division is looking into complaints regarding instances where children were involved in distributing propaganda material and canvassing on behalf of political parties.  “We have received several complaints regarding these incidents, and the NCPA’s legal division is currently investigating. Legal action will be taken against those responsible for involving children in election activities,” Siriwardena said. The act of using children for the political campaign drew criticism from the Election Commission (EC) and child rights activist organisations who have raised concerns about the violation of child protection laws. Siriwardena said that political parties should refrain from using children in such campaigns, as it violates certain legal provisions aimed at protecting children's rights. She also urged all candidates to respect the rights of children and to avoid engaging them in political propaganda, highlighting that this not only compromises their safety but also contravenes existing legislation on child welfare.

One can recall that the iconic image of an infant on the arms of its mother during the early stages of the 2022 ‘aragalaya’ movement also drew strong criticism about such exposure – risk of harm, while some support the move as well, with some parents questioning what was wrong in bringing children along to witness how politics work in Sri Lanka.  Some have questioned why child welfare regulators and other state agencies seem to be fine with children dressed in cultural attire being used to welcome politicians and candidates, or perform song, dance and other performances before politicians, while they try to penalise parents for taking their children along on grassroots-level political campaigning? “If it is against the law, why is it not uniformly applied to all?” One parent who wished to be anonymous, questioned. Another asked, “We can’t afford to have nannies or someone else to keep an eye on our kids when we walk around our own neighbourhoods to promote our political beliefs. Isn’t Sri Lankan democracy a participatory democracy? And since we don’t teach about governance and inclusive politics in the school curriculum, why shouldn’t we educate our kids to learn from us what it means to be in participatory democracy? Didn’t great political movements like the civil rights movement in India and the United States see children involved by their parents? Was that a bad thing?” 

While some parents expressed support for including children in political activities which they are part of, others found it unconscionable. “We shouldn’t let politics corrupt the minds of the young. Given our political culture, do you really want them to learn that,” one parent who was against the practice questioned.

Making governance inclusive to children is a phenomenon that some countries have delved into while some have been cautious. In Europe and in some other democratic countries, there has been a tendency to make children more aware of how governance and democracy work. The EU commission established a Children’s Participation Platform in 2022 together with civil society organisations, the European Parliament, international organisations, and children themselves. It connects existing child participation mechanisms at local, national and EU level.  The establishment of the EU Children’s Participation Platform marks the key action of Commission commitments on child participation as enshrined in the strategy. It reflects the Commission's dedication to child participation as a cross-cutting priority and its effort to incorporate the perspectives of its youngest citizens into its legislative and policy frameworks.

However, the inclusion of children in politics is a matter that needs broader discussion and perhaps guidelines, in Sri Lanka’s context. There are good reasons to be concerned.  However, given how involved children are today with social media and expression of their own views, it only seems that the increased participation by ‘youth’ including some very young ones in the political and democratic process in countries like Sri Lanka in the future is inevitable. As such, it is important that Sri Lankan society and our governance structures debate such inclusion at length, before updating Legislature and or introducing limitations or guidelines in how children can or cannot be involved with politics.