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Patali’s 43 Brigade writes to NCPA on child abuse

28 Jul 2021

  • Seeks focus on children’s mental state, unwarranted media intrusions, education
  • Sudarshini urges breaking cyclical nature of violence, gender parity
BY Dinitha Rathnayake The 43 Brigade political organisation’s Women's Collective has handed over a letter to the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), urging the relevant authorities to take appropriate action against acts of child abuse taking place in the country. The 43 Brigade is a political organisation affiliated to Opposition parliamentarian Patali Champika Ranawaka. The letter stated that at present, in Sri Lanka, there is a relative increase in crimes against children such as child abuse, the cruel and inhuman punishment of children, child trafficking, and child slavery. “The Police have confirmed that a child is sexually abused every two hours, and international data confirms that Sri Lanka is among the top 10 countries in terms of violence against children and child insecurity. Such crimes should not take place in a moral country. We believe that these kinds of crimes against children are something to be ashamed of as a nation,” it stated. As an institution aimed at the protection and safety of children, the NCPA also has a legal obligation to prevent these crimes, the 43 Brigade’s Women Collective noted. The 43 Brigade also proposed to accelerate law enforcement activities in relation to crimes against children, to focus on the mental state of children who have been abused, halt unwanted propaganda by the media regarding child abuse or offences against children, and to provide proper education to children on the legal status of such crimes in order to dispel their ignorance by including such in the school curricula and textbooks. Meanwhile, Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus Chairperson State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, speaking with regard to child abuse, child harassment, and child slavery, that it is the responsibility of society to oppose these unconditionally. She added there is a need for an organised programme to prevent such malpractices against children and to enforce the law beyond just protesting against such individual incidents. She further said that the law should be enforced expeditiously against the perpetrators of such acts, irrespective of their social status. “Such incidents of child abuse and harassment have been taking place in the past and continue to take place even now. Therefore, rather than protesting over individual cases, it is important to take measures to prevent these while making sure that the perpetrators are brought to task by the Police and the Judiciary,” she pointed out. Dr. Fernandopulle reminded that child abuse and child slavery are constantly creating an environment in which children are unable to reach their full developmental potential and creates situations where they can even suffer long-term physical and mental disabilities. “It is inevitable that a situation will once again be created where the abused children may continue to be abusers once they become adults, thus continuing the vicious cycle of child abuse. There is a growing social perception that women MPs should be the first to oppose the abuse of girls and the harassment of women and children, but the entire society should come forward to safeguard them as it is a tragic situation. Child abuse and violence against women show the deterioration of the values in society and gender inequality. Hence, it is important that not only women but all work together to prevent such situations,” the State Minister added.


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