NCPA Chairperson warns of harmful media publicity in Thanamalwila rape case

• Emphasises the need for ethical reportage of child abuse cases
• Urges media to focus on reporting punishments given to offenders
• The schoolgirl has been placed under probation and not allowed to visit her home

By Dayaratne Embogama  

Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) and former Supreme Court Judge Kusala Weerawardene said the victim in the Thanamalwila rape case has been subjected to a serious predicament due to the publicity given to the incident. Addressing a seminar in Anuradhapura to raise awareness among media personnel on the reportage of child abuse, she pointed out that the schoolgirl involved has been placed under probation and is not allowed to visit her home. 

“I decided to hold this seminar to raise awareness on ethical reportage of child abuse cases in light of the incident reported from Thanamalwila. That girl is in a sad predicament due to the wide publicity given to the incident. Every detail except her name has been reported. The girl, who endured the ordeal of being a victim of sexual abuse, is now subjected to a more serious punishment with nowhere to turn,” she said.

“It is the duty of adults to provide protection to children. The reportage of such incidents creates public awareness of the need to protect children, and that is an advantage of publicity through the media. People learn their responsibility to protect their children and those of others as well. However, such incidents could potentially set a bad example for children and lure them to follow suit. For example, when parents who drink alcohol in front of their children set a bad example, the children may feel the urge to experiment with it,” the Chairperson of the Child Protection Authority further said.

She requested the media to report cases of child abuse not as interesting stories but as serious crimes, and also to provide wide publicity to the punishments given to the culprits.

Anuradhapura District Secretary Ranjith Wimalsuriya and Director (Planning and Information) of the National Child Protection Authority Shanika Malalgoda were present at the occasion.