Committee to study laws, penalties in regional countries :

Child abuse :Tough new laws soon

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

Amendments to the existing laws on child abuse will be made shortly. A committee comprising representatives from the relevant ministries and departments will be appointed soon, said Justice Ministry Secretary Kamalini de Silva.

She said that this was a sequel to a request by Child Development and Women's Affairs Minister Tissa Karalliyade to tighten the laws by even imposing the death penalty or life imprisonment on offenders for child abuse.

"The proposed committee will study the child abuse laws now prevailing and penalties imposed in regional countries. We ought to be cautious about the repercussions of any changes to be introduced."

The committee will be headed by a senior judge with representatives from the Justice Ministry Attorney, General's Department, police, professionals and university dons. The Shirani Tilekawardena committee's recommendations on child crimes will also be studied by the proposed committee, she said.

She said that court cases on child abuse should be completed within a short timeframe. Attorney General Palitha Fernando has introduced a system to expedite child abuse cases.

Strengthening the existing laws would certainly eliminate the inordinate delay associated with child abuse cases, she said.

Child Development and Women's Affairs Minister Tissa Karalliyadde presented a concept paper to the Justice Ministry seeking to amend the penalties prescribed in the statute book on child abuse.

Crimes against children are mounting and the punishment meted out at present to offenders, especially for sexual offences don't seem to be a deterrent against repetition, the minister said. Instead, capital punishment or life imprisonment should be substituted by amending the Penal Code, he said.