Save children from child abusers

by Justice P.H.K. Kulatilaka

[Part-3]

'Sexual predators run riot in school' was the headline of a news item appearing in a Sunday newspaper of July 20, 2014. During the last few months the media reported a number of incidents where children had been either raped or subjected to grave sexual abuse inside classrooms. There were a number of cases where the principal or the Head Master had been the culprit.

The children were of tender years. They are an innocent lot. To a Sri Lankan child his teacher is supposed to be a second parent.

He expects love and affection from his teacher. What a crime when the teacher exploits the innocence of a child to satisfy his greed for sex and attendant violent animal feelings unmindful of the irreparable damage physically and mentally the child would suffer.

Very often parents are scared to complain because his child could be subjected to secondary victimisation and discrimination. Apparently there is no proper procedure to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of child offences.

This is an area where the parents and the education authorities have to act collectively and find an effective solution without further delay. I am happy to hear that the NCPA is conducting awareness programs for principals and teachers on how to prevent child abuse in schools.

Harvesting time

Judges of the Eastern, North - Central and North - Western Provinces told me that most child rape and grave sexual abuse of children are reported during harvesting time. Both parents go to their chenas and fields during daytime leaving the children alone or keeping them in the custody of unsafe hands thereby, inviting the crime doer to their very doorstep.

A case in point was reported to the Magistrate' Court, Trincomalee by B reports - BR/K/168/2012 and BR/K/167/2012 on the World Children's Day. The facts are as follows; two sisters of 8 years and 11 years of age had been dragged from their home to a shrub jungle nearby by a neighbour 60 years old man, brutally attacked the younger one when she had resisted and killed her. When he attempted to rape the elder girl she managed to escape.

Their father was working in the field. Their 13 year brother too had gone to the field carrying father's meals. Mother had gone abroad seeking employment.

The crime scenario was well set for the perpetrator to strike and he struck. Savagery of the attack was not brought to light because the offender committed suicide. This is the stark truth for which the whole community should be ashamed of. Time has come for all concerned good citizens to wake up from their slumber as they smell the gravity of the situation. It is pointless imagining,' what if-ing'. There are many loose ends to tighten up.

Concluded

The writer is a former Director of the Sri Lanka Judges Institute.