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.
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