Stringent legal action to be taken against those who abuse children:

Rs. 700m for child protection centres in the North, East and South - Minister Tissa Karaliyadda

By Naalir Jamaldeen

The Child Development and Women's Affairs Ministry plans to introduce various welfare measures for women and children. Several women and children programs were now functioning across the country, Minister Tissa Karaliyadda said in an interview with the Sunday Observer..

He said that stringent legal action will be taken against those who abuse children and violate their fundamental rights. If a person is found guilty of carrying out propaganda on websites to mislead children they will be imprisoned for a period between 10 and 20 years..

The hot line 1929 of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has been improved to receive telephone calls if action has to be taken. Now the phone number functions round the clock. Forcible abuse of children has declined by a considerable level due to the awareness campaigns carried out in the past.

Q: Can you outline the programs implemented by the Government to protect children from abuse and violence?

A: While introducing new programs to ascertain the protection of children, we carried forward the programs launched by the previous Minister and the Chairperson of NCPA. After I assumed duty as the Minister, we drafted various mechanisms to safeguard innocent children from being abused. As an institution which has close links with the people, the NCPA introduced the hotline 1929 and it is now successfully functioning rendering a great service to children. Children maintain cordial relationship with this service and make complaints on this number when required.

The Chairperson of the Child Protection Authority is working with dedication to minimise child abuse and the violence against children.

Rs. 700 million to the Child Development and Women's Affairs Ministry. Utilising these funds, child protection centres will be set up in the rural areas in the North, East and South to create awareness and minimise child abuse and violence against children. The required fundamental facilities will also be developed using these funds.

A large amount of money has been allocated to all District Secretaries across the country.

These funds will be utilised to set up child care centres and to improve the child protection network.

The Commissioner of Child Care and Child Probation also received sufficient funds to implement programs for children. Even though Child probation officers work under the provincial Governments, they also extend cooperation to the Central Government in implementing programs at district level.

There was a shortage of officers, we filled the vacancies by appointing graduates. My Ministry has a huge responsibility to protect the fundamental rights and privileges of children. All should work in unison, then only the goal can be achieved. Certain volunteer organisations also work with us with dedication. People in the villages cooperate with us. We have expanded counselling service for children, women and parents.

Q: Can you explain the programs to be implemented for children?

A: We plan to set up child protection centres countrywide. The Ministry has set up such a centre at the Ampara District Secretariat Premises. A pre school and a child care centre also functions at this centre, Employed parents can leave the their children at this centre while they are at work. After the pre school the children will be looked after at the child care centre until e parents return. This mechanism will ensure the protection of children. Babies can also be handed over at this centre. The children at these centres will receive maximum protection.

Q: Can you explain the programs being implemented to minimise child abuse over the Internet?

A: My Ministry jointly with the NCPA has initiated awareness programs among parents at village level. Long term imprisonment and punishment will be meted out to those who abuse children.

The Government has taken such an initiative to protect children from being abused. The special unit of the NCPA conducts raids from time to time on receipt of information. Forcible abuse of children has decreased by a considerable amount..

Q: Can you tell us whether domestic violence against children and women has increased or is on the wane?

A: Only a few incidents have been reported. That has also decreased in the recent past due to the awareness campaigns conducted by the NCPA under the supervision of my Ministry. When we receive such information, we raid those places with the help of the police. Some times such incidents are on the increase. I have directed the officers to be vigilant.

We conduct awareness programs for parents in the areas where such problems might crop up. Parents have the responsibility to protect their children. Carelessness of parents is the main reason for such incidents. Certain people say poverty is the prime cause for such incidents but carelessness is the prime reason accompany such incidents. Such incidents take place even in rich families.

Q: Can you tell us about provincial level child detention centre program?

A: My Ministry has taken steps to set up child detention centres in the provincial level. Under the first phase such centres will be set up in six provinces at a cost of Rs. 226 million. These centres will be set up in Western, Central, North, North Central, Uva, and Northern province.

Q: Can you elaborate the programs implemented to protect the privileges and rights of children and women in the North?

A: The Child Development and Women's Affairs Ministry has initiated a new program jointly with the security forces to protect and further develop the privileges of women and children in the North. A workshop was held at Kilinochchi Nelum Piyasa to make the three armed forces and the police officers who serve in the Northern province.

The relevant officers were made aware of the programs being implemented by the Ministry to empower the women and children and to protect their rights. After the restoration of peace the armed forces in the North extend fullest cooperation in the development works and they maintain close relationship with the people in the North. The new program will be helpful to minimise the violation against children and women.

Q: Can you tell us about the "National Data Base on Women"?

A: Child Development and Women's Affairs Ministry has taken steps to set up new such bases in the Divisional Secretariat Division level in the Northern province.

This unit will be known as "e women". The new Base will be modified through the administrative report of women. The help from Census and Statistics Department, IT Division of Colombo University and Sri Lanka Institute of Development and Administration will be sought.

These units will help to empower women and get them involved in the national development process.

Q: Can you tell us about Child and Women Development Units in the Northern Province?

A: My Ministry allocated Rs. eight million worth computers and stationery to 23 Divisional Secretariat Offices in the Northern province to set up Child and Women's Development Units in the Northern Province.

These centres will be set up covering all Divisional Secretariat Divisions across the country. Through these units, we hope to provide relief to children and women who were affected by war and due to various other reasons under the direct supervision of Divisional Secretaries.

My Ministry has been assigned the responsibility of providing relief collecting the correct data of women and children and women in the Divisional Secretariat Division level across the country.

Even during the conflict period and after the conflict certain NGOs submitted wrong information about the children and women in the Northern Province to the international community. We hope to set up a unit with information of women and children which are gathered from Divisional Secretariat Division level units.

These centres are to be set up to collect the information of vulnerable women, widows, women centric families, female, male children and children with special needs in each Divisional Secretariat Division and to provide protection and security to them. The required funds have been allocated to other Divisional Secretariat Divisions to set up such centres.