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Bill to protect children in custody and child victims
View(s):Children taken into custody and victims of child abuse will have additional protection, according to a Bill to be presented soon in Parliament. The Children Judicial Protection Bill, to be presented by Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, will spell out mechanisms to protect children during detention, ensuring their security and protecting their identity.
Mr. Rajapakshe said the main objective of the Bill was to “maintain the dignity of the children arrested or detained”. The move follows Parliamentary Sub Committee recommendations that measures should be taken to expedite cases where children are involved and assistance of the Judicial Services Commission and the Attorney General’s Department should be sought in this regard.
In a related move, a separate division is to be set up at Police Headquarters to investigate crimes against children. The unit will be headed by a Deputy Inspector General.