Over 200 research studies around the world have proven that corporal punishment in early childhood, especially during the first five years of life, can cause long term physical, psychological and social development anomalies ranging from educational underachievement to youth violence to suicide

Stop Child Cruelty Trust (SCC) has initiated the formation of Sri Lanka’s first Child-Protection Alliance (CPA) of credible organizations passionately committed to protecting and promoting the rights of children. The Alliance firmly believes that working cohesively towards focused targets will help achieve greater success, especially in advocacy work with relevant State institutions. 

The rapidly growing membership of Child Protection Alliance is Alliance of Social Activists, Asia Pacific Management Institute, Avanka Lanka Foundation, Bakamoono.lk, Hashtag Generation, iProbono, Meraki Sri Lanka, Nelum Yaya Foundation, Promoters for Equal Participation in Leadership, Right to Life Human Rights Centre, Saubhagya Foundation, Schools 4.0 Lanka, Sri Lanka Unites, Stop Child Cruelty Trust, United Human Rights Organization, Voice against Child Abuse, Women for Sustainable Development, Youth Advocacy Network Sri Lanka, and Youth for Tomorrow.

During the inaugural meeting of CPA on 19th September 2021 via Zoom, the key areas of concern highlighted were raising public awareness on physical abuse, violence, corporal punishment, sexual abuse and education, mental abuse, the mental health of children, and judicial reforms.

Key Perspectives: 

Prashan De Visser, President and Founder of Sri Lanka Unites, whilst appreciating the enormous task undertaken by CPA, strongly advocated for unity and inclusivity as one nation to be inculcated the values of the younger generation, and to work to reject any attempts to corrupt these young minds of hate and intolerance. 
Senel Wanniarchchi, Co-Founder/Director of Hashtag Generation was particularly keen to ensure a safe environment for children in cyberspace and society at large. He also emphasised that children should become independent thinkers, free from archaic adult influences.

Pranitha Warnakulasuriya, Executive Director, United Human Rights Organization highlighted the responsibility and accountability of child protection agencies both in government and non-government sectors. She was particularly keen to see an efficient service-oriented mechanism than the prevailing bureaucratic lethargy engulfing our children. 
Dileepa Manawadu, Co-Founder, School 4.0 Lanka wished to see an end to all forms of physical and mental abuse, especially within the education system. The concept of Free Education endorsed by C. W. W. Kannangara, which originally meant Freedom of Education is severely misguided in modern society. Free as in freedom of education is misinterpreted as 
free of cost education.

Aritha Wickremasinghe, Equality Director, iProbono wanted to see achieved in the short to mid-term the introduction of child-focused courts and fast track procedures in cases of 
child abuse and judicial reforms. 
Samanthi Premaratne, Founder, Promotion for Equal Participation in Leadership, endorsed gender equality and promotion of leadership in girl children in a traditional patriarchal society as Sri Lanka.

Moving Forward

From October 1 2021 when Sri Lanka customarily celebrates Children’s Day until November 20, 2021, when the world celebrates UN-designated Universal Children’s Day, the CPA continued intensive awareness programs including weekly webinars with expert panellists and State officials. Instead of regurgitating the well-recognized problems as in other forums, CPA changed gear and diverted the course to focus on solutions and holding relevant authorities accountable. 

The webinar ‘A B C of Child Protection’ was moderated by Ms Manawadu, with expert panellists Amanthi Caldera (Clinical Psychologist, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya) and Shanthi Wijesignhe (Resource Person of Seekers Research, Childcare and Parenting Facilitator) giving invaluable tips on positive discipline without 
punishment in early childhood.

Over 200 research studies around the world have proven that corporal punishment in early childhood, especially during the first five years of life, can cause long term physical, psychological and social development anomalies ranging from educational underachievement to youth 
violence to suicide.

The panel clarified that contrary to the traditional belief that children must be beaten to avoid them becoming thugs or addicts, 163 countries of the 196 that signed the UNCRC banning corporal punishment have shown a sustained decline in youth violence proving that violence begets more violence in society.
Detailed articles of the other webinars will be published in weeks to come.

#Noගුටි

The Child Protection Alliance is gearing up to a major national campaign #No   in 2022 to eliminate corporal punishment, among other forms of abuse. They hope to obtain cabinet approval to implement the historic Supreme Court directive of February 2021 to unequivocally prohibit corporal punishment by Penal Code amendments, support from leading Teacher Unions and a host of other activities. 

Major reforms needed

The CPA has written to The President of Sri Lanka, of three recommendations to resolve the current crisis:
1. Make the NCPA an independent institution without political interference as per the Act when it was established and per the recommendations of UNCRC in 2018 during the last country assessment
2. Appoint a youthful, experienced, capable expert in child rights who can implement a national child protection plan who is not a political henchman
3. Work closely with credible non-governmental organizations who have the expertise and resources to drive the national agenda to the masses, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic as recommended by WHO in its six-point plan for all countries.
Child protection is a collective social responsibility and CPA is hopeful of new dawn free of violence in our 
paradise island!

For further details please visit www.stopchildcruelty.com or email [email protected]