Child rights violated in campaigns

Asha SENEVIRATHNE

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) Chairman, Jagath Wellawatte said that photographs of children should not be used for election campaigns.

He also urged parents to be vigilant over misusing the photographs of their offsprings in the election campaigns.

NCPA Chairman expressed his dismay to the `Sunday Observer' the misuse of photographs of children. He said using children for election campaigns is a violation of child rights.

There are appropriate laws to take legal action against person who violate children's rights. Certain parents allow their children and their photographs to be used in election campaigns. Politicians use these photographs for their publicity campaigns.

According to Wellawatte the children are affected when their photographs are used for election campaigns and added that they would become phychologically abused and mentally disturbed.

The NCPA also urged the politicians to refrain from misusing children for political purposes in the future. The authority also advised the parents to be cautious of their children becoming scapegoats of the politicians.