Over 349 children subject to grave crimes in two months - WCB

by Shanika Sriyananda

Over 349 children below the age of 18 were subjected to various grave crimes including murder, rape, serious injuries and kidnapping during the last two months - from January 1 to February 28, the Women's and Children's Bureau (WCB) sources said.

According to WCB statistics, over 116 girls were raped and 77 were sexually abused. Forty two children were kidnapped. Twenty two children had been subjected to cruelty. Six children had been sexually abused by their fathers and uncles.

Over 60 percent of these children were raped and sexually abused by close relatives of their families. Some children were raped or sexually harassed by neighbours or the most trusted members in their families. Sixty percent of these offenders are over 60 years.

During the two months - from January 1 to February 28 - four children were killed and five were seriously injured.

Over 430 minor crimes against children were reported to the WCB during the same period.

WCB OIC Buddhika Balechandra told the 'Sunday Observer' that the main reason for these incidents were mainly not due to the loopholes in the law but the weakness of the relevant authorities to control the media including the TV and Newspapers, which telecast and print the pictures which sexual desires mainly among old people.

He said that the awareness programs on child abuse and the amendments to the Penal Code in 1995 had resulted in an increased number of complaints on child abuse and other crimes against children.

Balechandra said that the unlimited freedom given to the media to telecast scenes that arose sexual desires among people have resulted in many crimes against children. " Earlier there were not many scenes shown on TV. Radio, the most popular medium, even aired songs based on religion. People had a strong link with religious places and, the number of crimes was less. However in this modern world, the culture created by the media has paved the way for more crimes. The innocent victims are children who do not have a voice and are compelled to suffer silently", he said.

He said that the police alone could not curb crimes against children. "Bringing offenders to book is merely putting temporary patches to this grave problem, which needs a much broader solution in the long run", he said.

The highest number of cases (27) of grave crimes against children had been reported from the Ratnapura district. Followed by Elpitiya 22, Ampara 21, Kandy 14, Polonnaruwa 14, Batticaloa 20, Colombo 11, Vavuniya three and Trincomalee four.

He said that thirty-six units have been set up in 36 police divisions, where all OICs were given mobile telephones to entertain complaints.