Expedite child abuse cases: One court day a week

By Isuri Kaviratne

The Committee on Child Security has made recommendations to allocate one court day a week, to expedite child abuse cases, State Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Sudarshini Fernandopulle said. "Most of the recommendations are on the prevention of child abuse, such as controlling and combating drug abuse, raising awareness, banning pornographic sites, educating schoolchildren to protect themselves and educate parents on how to protect their children", she said.

She said the verdict in the case of Seya Sadewmi who was kidnapped and murdered last year, was due this week. "Had the parents been more vigilant, there would have been a different outcome to this story", she said.

Minister for Higher Education and Highways Lakshman Kiriella, who is heading the Committee on Child Security. will present an action plan to the Cabinet next week.

Secretary to the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, Chandrani Senaratne, said prior to seeking Cabinet approval, the action plan was sent to other ministries and the Police Department for their observations.

A total of 10,732 cases of child abuse were registered at the National Child Protection Authority last year under the categories - physical, sexual, mental abuse and neglect. The five districts that had the highest number of child abuse cases recorded at the NCPA are; Colombo (1522), Gampaha (1187), Kurunegala (827), Galle (700), and Kaluthara (634).

The NCPA has also recorded 2317 cases on cruelty to children (physical abuse), 1463 cases of violation compulsory education, 885 cases of neglect of children and 735 cases of sexual harrassment, 433 cases of rape, 365 cases of grave sexual abuse, 338 cases of procuring to begging cases, 313 child labour cases, 219 cases of kidanpping from the legal guardian and 3041 cases on misscelenious cases.