Expert committee probes sexual abuse cases in Jaffna

by Anuradha Kodagoda

Following the rape and murder of the school girl on 13 May in Punkudutheevu, Jaffna, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has set up a Committee of Inquiry into Sexual Violence Against Children in the Jaffna District.

The Committee comprises members with expertise in legal, social service, judicio-medical, psychosocial, gender and child rights fields.

The Committee is mandated to investigate incidents that occurred in Jaffna, in the month of May. Speaking to the Sunday Observer, J. Thatparan, Child Rights Activist from Jaffna and a member of the committee said: "There were seven to nine child abuses cases reported in May in the Jaffna District, in addition to the highly publicized rape and murder of a school girl. We want to investigate the root cause of the reported cases."

Thatparan said, the rape and murder of a school girl highlighted several concerns, especially the socio-political vulnerabilities of children, particularly in relation to sexual violence, in the post-war context.

He also said, several reported child abuse cases indicated the need to understand how ill equipped the criminal justice system is do gap identification. Natasha Balendra, Chairperson, National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) said the Committee would submit recommendations to the NCPA by August 31.

It will look into a sample of incidents of sexual violence against children and young person's reported in the Jaffna District this May. NCPA hopes this exercise will help strengthen good practices and eliminate delays, addressing failures and lapses with a view to strengthening law enforcement and criminal justice mechanisms currently in place.

Balendra added, the current status of women and children being vulnerable to sexual abuse was a serious concern and required multi-sectoral collaborations to address root causes.

The committee consists of Maxie Proctor, retired DIG, Security Manager, Hayleys Group; Prashanthi Mahindraratna, Counsel, Julius & Creasy; Dr. Ajith Tennakoon, Chief JMO, Institute of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law, Sarala Emmanuel, Executive Director, Suriya Women's Development Centre, Dr. S.Sivayokan, Jaffna Teaching Hospital and J. Thatparan, Child Rights Activist.