News
Video evidence facilities being set up for child victims
View(s):By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe
More than 6,500 child-related grievances have been received by the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) as of the end of August, and the authority has decided to establish nine video evidence recording units in provinces by 2026, enabling child-friendly procedures for testifying.
Video evidence is now being recorded through units at Ragama and Colombo, and more units are being set up at Karapitiya and Anuradhapura Teaching Hospitals.
Among complaints registered this year, 1,459 cases are related to child protection and custody. Aside from that, there have also been 1,315 child cruelty cases, 1,083 denials of children’s right to compulsory education, 372 sexual abuse cases, 366 counselling and psychosocial treatment cases and 92 cases of cyber violence against children.
The highest number of reports came from the Colombo District (809), followed by Gampaha (689), Kurunegala (495), Ratnapura (452) and Ampara (413).
The NCPA has suggested changes to the law, the establishment of school child protection committees, and a national student ambassador programme through divisional child protection officers, district psychological officers, and district child protection officers.
Organising awareness generation and improvement of skills and attitudes of teachers and children on child protection, empowering rural communities to strengthen child protection at the grassroots level, enhancing cyber safety through capacity building of officials of NCPA, and improving knowledge within the authority’s cyber surveillance unit are among other activities.
There will be regulation of daycare centres and child development centres at the district level and spreading of knowledge on child protection and rights through television and radio.
Besides, by the end of 2026, the NCPA will fill vacancies and train officials to aid in the creation of child-friendly school environments through positive discipline.
A five-year action plan on child protection will be made in consultation with all stakeholders.
NCPA Chairperson Preethi Inoka Ranasinghe told The Sunday Times, “As the national institution tasked with ensuring the assurance of safety of children, the NCPA is devoted towards creating a child-friendly and safe environment for all children. That can be achieved only through collective work, where all the state, non-state, and private institutions are operating under a well-coordinated scheme.
“The protection of children’s right to education and the eradication of child labour are the foundations of their future. Sex education that suits their age provides them with the knowledge to protect themselves during their adolescence.’’
The NCPA has collaborated with organisations such as the Sri Lanka Emergency Response Forum and the Sri Lanka Police to support children who have been victims of online abuse. However, to prevent repeated victimisation, stronger cyber security along with greater education and awareness about ethical use of the internet is needed.
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