Can you answer to these three questions?

Who can bring a smile…

Situation of Children in Sri Lanka

This focus on issues related child rights in Sri Lanka. Children population of the country form about 36% of Sri Lanka’s population of almost 20 million. The school going children’s representation is 21% of the total population. These figures clearly highlight the importance of paying attention to children’s issues in the country. In the strategic plan for 2007-2009, Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission has identified children as one of the most vulnerable groups in the country. The Committee of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child also has recommended separate bureau for children within the Human Rights Commission in Sri Lanka, after reviewing the periodic report of Sri Lanka in 2003, in order to centralize its work for children and monitoring.

Those decisions, which came from National and International corporate bodies on human rights monitoring, compelled to search for reasons and background for taking such decisions. That effort helped to understand issues related to children clearly and identify the root causes of these issues. Exercises employed to understand the situation were not limited to studying the works done by professionals and other organizations, which are involved in promotion and protection of child rights. The primary level researches have conducted with participation of communities to understand problem from their point of view. In addition to that some of issues identified have mentioned below which are most important and required to take immidiate remedial actions.

Violence in schools
“A National Survey on Emerging Issues among Adolescents in Sri Lanka” done by UNICEF and Government of Sri Lanka in 2004 found that 76% of the 10-19 year olds had been punished at schools. This has happened in an environment of the Ministry of Education prohibits physical or corporal punishments in the school by any adult on the child, by Circular No.2001/11 on maintain discipline in schools. “A Study on Violence in Schools” carried out by Save the Children Sri Lanka in 2004 highlights the causes for violence in schools. According to reports, lack of the knowledge on child rights and corporal punishment, competition among teachers and children, stress, and lack of communication skills and other economic, and socio cultural factors are among causes for above issues.

Child Labour
Child labour is always under reported in Sri Lanka because some of people are still believing it their right to have children as workers and assisting to generate family’s income. Particularly this concept is well rooted in rural communities who are in agricultural trade. This has confirmed by the Department of Census and Statistics through “Labour Force Survey of Sri Lanka,” according to its findings in 2006 show 2.7% sharp increment in the child employment. This was 0.1% in the year 2005. This survey revealed 0.8% of 5-14 year olds (25’533) as being out of school and involved in economic activities and 95% of children engaged in economic activity live in the rural sector. Child led Research on Child Rights done by Professor Amarasiri De Silva in 2006, clearly indicates child labour is the major issue in country.

Child Abuse and neglect
Women and Children Desk of the Police Department has examined 3208 within year 2007. Proportion of Sexual abuses and rape cases are very high. Statistics shows 2,385 cases are sexual abuses and 823 cases are assaults, child labour, and abductions. There is no information about the emotional abuses, which occurs in large quantities in family and society. However, Child led Research on Child Rights states the Education related problems, Sex abuse, Alcoholism in family and insecurity are main issues affected to children. Those findings provide evidence to assume that children’s rights were violated even at their own homes.

Discrimination
Discrimination is not only a right violation it is root of many issues. Most vulnerably discriminated children are living in rural and underprivileged areas. Any relevant authorities have not taken effective actions to encounter this problem. VCDF has identified proportion of children in rural areas are larger in victimized group comparing with children in other areas in the country. The disparity of development and resource distribution is the main reason for this issue. This has been clearly confirmed by all above researches and studies. Labour force survey in Sri Lanka says children in rural areas, are involved with economic activities. Examination Department of Sri Lanka statistics reveals pass rate of the examination is lower in rural areas. Ministry of Education statistics are sound evidence to prove inequity of teacher allocations for rural schools.

When can solve these issues related to children in Sri Lanka? Who can take initiative for this? What shoud do give them better future and smile to face?