Concerted effort to stamp out child abuse

Bureau for the Protection of Children and Women (BPCW):

by Ranga CHANDRARATHNE

In an exclusive interview with Sunday Observer SSP and Director of Bureau for the Protection of Children and Women explains the vital role that the bureau plays in raising awareness, protection of children and women and bringing offenders of child abuse to book.

Q: What is the statutory position of BPCW and what is the mandate it has?

A: This Bureau is a division of the police set up by the police with the purpose of prevent, investigate about the violation of children and women’s rights. There are legislatures enacted by parliament to prevent this kind of violence.

We are enforcing legislatures through the police stations in the country.

The Bureau was set up in 1991 to effectively implement laws. If there is a serious case of violation of children and women’s rights, the bureau takes up that case and inquires into it. Apart from that we assist anybody who wants to go to the police`.

Q: How far BPCW is successful in translating its founding goals into reality against the escalating of crime at an alarming rate in the country?

A: I do admit, to a certain extent, there is an increase of crimes against children and women. It is not a trend. There are many factors contribute to this situation. We have successfully solved almost ninety five cases and satisfied in the way the bureau implemented its strategies.

Q: What are the on-going programmes that are aimed at addressing the issues relating to the protection of children and women against violence and discrimination?

A: From the beginning, we must bring social values to the system. Actually values that we had.

Well, there are several programmes. We are only enforcement authority carrying out our tasks by taking offenders into custody. This along is not enough. So there has to be a coordinated effort with the other agencies as well. All the institutions such as National Child Protection Authority and the Ministry of Women Affairs, UNICEF and other NGOs should work together.

We are carrying out several programmes island wide with UNICEF, Women in Need and the Plan. By analyzing the statistics, we have identified most vulnerable areas as Sabaragamuwa Province, North Western, North Central and Southern Province. Apart from that we educate policemen on investigation tactics, techniques. It is an island wide programme.

The bureau also educate coastal batch because children are exploited by persons in the tourism industry.

Q: Although there are legislative safeguards against exploitation and discrimination of women and children, issue of effective enforcement of law in the instances of abuse and discrimination has been raised. As the law enforcement agency, what are the measures that BPCW has so far taken? What are the mechanism through which the bureau executes its mandate?

A: We execute our mandate through issuing guidelines, set of procedures, regulations and guide the local and territorial police stations with regard to awareness, investigation and the supervision of criminals after punishments.

For an example, we realized there are cases of rape reported which occurred in school vans. So immediately we alarmed the all police stations by way of a circular.

The bureau receives daily report of crimes committed against women and children and takes follow up actions. The Bureau also acts as a policy making, regulatory and monitoring body.

Q: It is an undisputable fact that public awareness on the issues is vital for the effective implementation of laws and regulations that have been enacted to ensure violence free environment for children and women. What are the public awareness programmes that the bureau has launched to educate the public on the issue?

A: We have identified various focus groups to educate in order to reduce crimes against children and women. Most vulnerable group is children in the age 10-17 and the bureau addresses these groups at schools and focused on girls’ schools as girls are subjected to abuse. We are also assisted by Ministry of Education and NCPA in implementing these programmes.

We also address parents and also educate those who are closely associated with children such as bus drivers. In fact the theme of the World Children’s Day was ‘Stop violence against children in public places”.

Q: Enforcing rigorous punishments on the offenders alone would not be sufficient to curb violence against children and women. Rehabilitation of offenders will, in the long run, help reduce crime against children and women and will also serve as deterrent for would-be offenders. What are the rehabilitation programmes that BPCW has launched? And what is the level of success achieved so far?

A: I do not agree that punishment alone could address the issues. The process of rehabilitation should commence at domestic level, when a child is brought up as a good citizen. With regard to offenders, rehabilitation is a process. There should be other programmes to monitor when a rehabilitated person is integrated into the society. At present, such programmes are conducted by the Department of Prison and NCPA and other agencies.

Q: Compared with the previous year, approximately how many complaints of violence against children and women have been reported? If the number of complaints are on the rise, what are the measures that the bureau would take to arrest the negative trend?

A: Effective awareness and enforcement are our tools. Our’s is engaging in raising awareness and the effective enforcement and bring the offenders before court of law. Laws are not adequate to a certain extension.Maintaining the unity of the family and crimes committed within the family. Earlier, we hardly come across a father or a close relation of the family raping a girl.

But it is on the rise. So we will have to separate the child from the family environment. There are practical difficulties. After separating the child from the family, who is going to look after the child and to see the education, health and other needs of the child. Those are obstacles in the process of exercising justice.

Witness and victim protection was still not in place. Witness is an important element. Will the child give evidence against the father or a close relation. Absence of witness protection laws is a barrier to execute our mandate.

Q: What are the strategies that have been mapped out to improve the efficiency of the bureau?

A: We have already mapped out our strategies. Effective litigation, effective enforcement is our strategy. Our efficiency can be measured by how we are getting people before court of law.

Strategies are basically based on the awareness and enforcement.

Q: What are the lessons one can learn from numerous Case studies reported?

A: It is a subjective. But I could say one fact that now children are being abused by those who are within the family or people surrounding the family and people who are closely associating with the child.

Tuition master, boy friend, or person who takes the child to school can be the abuser. With the availability of e-mails, SMS and internet, children are more accessible unlike earlier days. I heard that service provider has introduced a family package where parents have a control over the cellular phones used by children. We really appreciate this type of technological intervention by service providers.

So they have realized social responsibility. Technology related issues are on the rise. People sent immoral unwanted SMS and MMS with pictures. So that has to be stopped. So that is an area we focus our attention on.

Sexual abused committed within the family and closer relatives is a separate section in the penal code amendments of 1994 and the punishment has been enhanced.

It is degradation of social and moral values that affects the situation. Any case of abuse can be reported on our hot line 2444444 and immediate action is taken regarding complaints.