News

News

Child abuse increasing
By N. Dilshath Banu
Crimes against children have increased this year, according to the Women and Children’s Bureau in the Police. This was disclosed at a discussion police officials had with officials of other Government bodies and NGOs, to come to a consensus on combating crimes against women and children.

“Crimes against children have gone up because of poverty and illiteracy. In some cases, mothers have gone abroad and their children don’t have a suitable environment to grow,” Director of the Bureau for Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women, SSP L.L. Cecil Perera said.

He said most of the abuses are committed not by strangers, but by those close to the family. According to Bureau statistics, up to April this year 769 abuse cases had been reported as against 661 cases in the corresponding period last year.

Ratnapura district had the highest number with 65 cases reported and Anuradhapura district second with 57 cases.Rape was the most common crime committed against children with 269 cases, with other sexual abuses coming second.

“ We are conducting awareness programme island wide in schools to create awareness among children and others to prevent and also to report child abuse cases” said SSP Perera.

Top

Back to News