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Immediate response to TCHR report on "Child Rights in Sri Lanka"

Newly appointed Chairperson, National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), Padma Wettawe says that while Sri Lanka is facing alarming levels of child sexual exploitation, rape and child abuse, immediate steps need to be taken to implement programmes to help protect children.

Wettawe says that while many thousands of children are involved in the labour force in the island, discussions would be held with the government to increase the minimum age for labour from 14 to 18. "There are thousands of children who need to get a basic education. Instead of being in schools these children are on the roads and homes, working as domestics. We need to change the system entirely because our children are our future," she said in an interview with the Morning Leader.)

Q: You have been appointed head of the NCPA. What immediate plans do you have to look into the welfare of children who are abused, homeless and are living on the streets?

A: Sri Lanka is a tiny island and considering the country’s population there is a large number of children who need our help. There are thousands of children who do not get a basic education, thousands more living on the streets and working as domestics and there is an equal number who have been abused or sexually assaulted.

Therefore as the NCPA Chairperson it is my duty to address these issues with immediate concern as we need to reduce the rising numbers of child abuse and assault cases.

I have been a teacher for over 20 years and have worked closely with children of all ages — especially those in the rural areas. These children have a lot of talent but many are unable to show this talent due to poverty and domestic problems. To earn some money, these children are forced to work when they reach the age of 14.

In order to provide the necessary education I plan to work closely with the district and provincial authorities. Committees will be formed to look into the issues concerning children and we hope to provide help and therapy to all those children who need it.

I also plan to implement programmes to educate parents especially those in the rural areas as parents need to be educated on the importance of providing a basic education to their children.

Since I have been newly appointed a lot more programmes will be proposed in the future which I hope to implement to look after children who are suffering in the country.

Q: Sri Lanka and India have been countries termed as ‘paedophile havens.’ Sri Lanka has been battling a high rate of child prostitution, child sexual exploitation and child abuse, especially in the rural areas. What are the setbacks the country faces due to the numbers remaining at an alarming level?

A: Today, in Sri Lanka a large number of child sexual exploitation cases are reported from the rural areas. This is because these children have not received a basic education and have dropped out of school at an early age.

Although I need to do a lot of research since I am new in this field, it is an accepted fact that there are a lot of children who are sold by their parents in order to earn some money.

Children are also abused and forced into prostitution when there are problems at home such as the mother working overseas and the father being an alcoholic.

Domestic violence plays a very important role as a majority of children, victimised by abuse, sexual harassment and rape come from homes where the father is unemployed and has endless fights with the mother. Alcohol also poses a major problem in these houses.

Discussions will be held with various organisations and committess in identifying the groups which are operating in the country due to which many children are forced into sexual exploitation. Although I need to be briefed and need to study this whole paedophile issue in the island, committees will be formed to address these issues immediately.

It is also important to implement educational programmes, especially in the rural areas where the children and parents are educated on child sexual exploitation.

Furthermore, I also hope to hold discussions with the government in providing rehabilitation centers for children who have been victimised by sexual harassment and rape.

Q: What is the state of Sri Lankan children, when compared to children in other South Asian countries?

A: There are not much statistics available on child prostitutes but when compared to other South Asian countries, Sri Lankan children are in a better position. As child abuse, prostitution and sexual assault are being addressed to a great extent in this country people are aware of the situation.

Many other South Asian countries are still trying to recognise this problem whereas in Sri Lanka we have already begun providing assistance and programmes to the children.

Q: Currently, in Sri Lanka, how many children are involved in the labour force?

A: Well, in Sri Lanka the law permits children to work from 14 and above. Currently labour is divided into three categories — under 18, under 16 and under 14.

I cannot give the exact figures as to how many children are involved in the labour force as nobody has the exact figures and as I said I am still new in this field. There are thousands but what is reported is not reality.

Q: Which are the areas worst affected by child labour?

A: Urban areas such as Colombo, Gampaha, Kurunegala and Kandy have a large number of children working as domestics. This is because poverty is very high in these areas.

For child exploitation, coastal areas have been identified as the worst.

Q: Last year there was a large number of school drop outs. Currently how many children, especially in the rural areas, are out of the education stream?

A: Currently there is a very high drop out rate. These children usually tend to find some sort of work immediately.

There are many thousands of children who are non-schooling as they live on the streets and their parents cannot afford to send them to school. Many of these children are also sent to work as domestics to earn some money.

A large number of school drop outs have also been identified from the rural areas and the exact number in these areas reach up to several thousands.

While the lower grades have the highest drop out rate, grade one enrollment is still very high.

In order to make sure that children continue their education, parents have to be educated on the importance of a school education for their children.

Q: Children who drop out of school also tend to get addicted to alcohol and drugs. What can be done to save these children?

A: This is a very serious issue because children get attracted to the most deadliest things.

Below 18 years is the worst age because this is the age when children can easily be influenced by others. Nobody can really stop children from taking alcohol and drugs but steps should be taken to warn these children of the grave consequences of alcohol and drugs.

We need to establish healthy lifestyles for these children and introduce health education in schools islandwide.

Children, especially in villages, tend to take alcohol and drugs as they sit idle. Parents must also play role model to their children because a majority of the children who take alcohol and drugs come from families where the father is an alcoholic.

Q: Is the issue of child sexual exploitation being addressed in a proper manner?

A: No, because a lot needs to be done. We have not addressed the issue in a proper manner and the laws have to be more stern and programmes have to be implemented, especially in the areas affected by this menace. It will take several years to eradicate this issue but it is never too late to start.

Q: Currently children are permitted to work as domestics from 14 and above. Should this age be increased?

A: It should be increased as we would like to make it 18 and above. Therefore discussions will be held with the government on this issue.

Q: Soon after the tsunami, there was a serious threat of foreign paedophiles entering the country posing as volunteers. Has this issue now been sorted?

A: I have just entered this field therefore I need to do some research before answering this question.

Q: Do you think that Sri Lanka has a sufficient number of institutions and shelters for orphaned children and for those who have been victims of rape and abuse?

A: The numbers are below average as a lot more institutions and shelters need to be established.

Discussions will be held with the government and the necessary authorties to establish a sufficient number of institutions and shelters especially in the rural areas. Homes and shelters should be set up in all districts in the island rather than being restricted only to a few.