Ending child exploitation our goal - NCPA Chairman

Nadira Gunatilleke of the Daily News interviews NCPA Chairman Jagath Wellawatta on ending child abuse

Q - What is the role of the NCPA in taking care of child soldiers rescued from the LTTE ?

A - Since 2001 the NCPA has been taking care of child soldiers who have been rescued from the LTTE clutches. First the NCPA was involved in rehabilitating rescued child soldiers at Bindunuwewa. The NCPA also took care of the rescued child soldiers at Pallekelle. I personally visited them and inquired and ensured their well-being.

They were counselled and released to society. But the most important task was re-integrating them into society. The NCPA established a Committee with the participation of Prof. Harendra de Silva, Dr. Hiranthi Wijemanna and a few other scholars to formulate a policy in connection with this task. Then it was presented to the Secretary of the Justice Ministry who also holds the position of the Commissioner of Rehabilitation. Earlier, it was one law for all surrendees but we separated the surrendees into two categories under a new law as children and adult surrendees. Our policy on child soldiers was accepted and a lot of work carried out accordingly.

The NCPA has also made arrangements to make some video documentaries in order to raise awareness among the parents living in the North and East about the same issue.

Q - How about the children affected by the LTTE terrorist attacks carried out in the South and what can the NCPA do to ensure their well-being?

A - What requires here is to prevent the affected children becoming terrorists. Most of the children who had been affected by the LTTE terrorist attacks lost their parents, siblings and relations. But they have no idea why they lost them. They gradually realise it when a lot of well-wishers attend the funeral and promise the world to them. But after the funeral no one visits them and they are being left alone only with thousands of broken promises. Then they start to hate society and wish to take revenge. A lot of funds and relief are available for them through State and voluntary organisations and institutions. The NCPA coordinates the two parties. A lot of victims do not know about the various funds and relief available to them.

The victims should not be treated differently and we should not let them suffer due to social stigma. The Social Services and Welfare Ministry and the Child Development and Women's Empowerment Ministry have come together to assist them.

Q - What is the most common and gravest problem faced by Sri Lankan children at the moment?

A - The most common problem faced by Sri Lankan children is sexual abuse. The majority of child exploitation cases are related to sexual abuse. The gravest problem faced by Sri Lankan children is getting sexually abused by their father, grandfather or a very close relative. The other serious problem is both girls and boys are being sexually abused by them in the same manner.

Q - What is the latest situation of the children affected by the 2004, tsunami?

A - There are 5700 children affected by the 2004 tsunami living in Sri Lanka at the moment and some of them have lost both parents while others have lost one parent.

The NCPA conducted a post inspection in 2007 about the children affected by the tsunami covering the entire Western Province, Galle and Matara districts. Today their requirements show a drastic change when comparing with their requirements in 2004. The NCPA has already taken steps to settle four cases in connection with misusing properties belonging to affected children, acting according to the 2005 Tsunami Provisions Act. A National Counselling Centre for Children is to be established shortly.

The children affected by the 2004 tsunami face grave problems today because of their `Guardians'. Many female children have been forcibly given in marriage while some others have been manipulated in different ways in order to acquire their inherited properties and money granted to them by the State and donors. After the tsunami in 2004, many 'guardians' came forward to take care of affected children but according to the latest findings they had done that with hidden agendas and other evil motives such as acquiring money, donations, relief and other assistance granted by the State and donors to the affected children, acquiring the inherited properties of such children and using the children as domestic aids.

At the moment the affected children do not receive any type of assistance from any donor.

Tsunami related donations, relief and other assistance have come to an end. Therefore, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has come forward with Rs.40 million to assist the NCPA to set up a fund, scholarship or similar scheme to assist these children in long term basis.

Q - What are the cultural, religious, social, economic and political restrictions that limit your services?

A - The latest trend used by the perpetrators to cover up and get away with it is, religion. When a child abuser is being arrested by the NCPA he or she interprets it as a crusade against his or her religion no matter whatever it is. In that way the abusers try to escape by building a huge protest against their arrests. It is President Mahinda Rajapaksa who protects the NCPA against all types of interferences. A political appointee cannot do this job because it needs knowledge and experience. I will do my job and bring all the culprits before law no matter what challenges I have to face.

Once a police officer was looking for 14 culprits who had sexually abused a girl and the police officer was travelling in a vehicle looking for culprits while keeping the molested girl on his lap!

When questioned why he did it, he questioned if 14 persons can rape the girl, what is wrong with him keeping her on his lap. We need a drastic change of attitude. Several police officers have also been arrested for not taking action against the perpetrators. When a child is being subjected to gang rape, he or she gives different statements at different times due to trauma which becomes a disadvantage to the victim during legal procedure. This issue should be taken care of.

Sri Lankan parents do not know how to get along and communicate with their teenage children. All Media especially the television tell the teenagers that their parents are their great enemies. The teenagers accept this and experience the same at home when the parents act strangely. So we cannot expect anything good. Child suicides, child mothers and child drug addicts and similar things are the result of this situation. This situation should be changed. The NCPA will publish some books to educate parents on this issue.

Q - What will be the future of the NCPA?

A - The NCPA will work to eradicate child exploitation from Sri Lanka completely within the next 10 years. A policy will be introduced this year to protect victimized children. A study will be conducted on the increasing weight of the school bag of the children and the outcome of this study will be handed over to the Education Ministry. Another study will be conducted on the delays of court cases. It is only the very brave parents who come forward and demand justice when their child is being molested and there is no point in solving the case after the child becomes an adult.

Arrangements will also be made to unite 14,500 institutionalised children with their families. Vigilance Committees have already set-up at village level and this program will further expand. Conducting workshops and seminars in five star hotels will not do any good for the Sri Lankan children. The NCPA will also identify vulnerable children such as children who's mothers are working abroad, street children and the children who lost their homes due to LTTE terrorism and ensure their welfare.

Q - Do you want to make a request from the Sri Lankan public ?

A - What we need to do is to establish a society that protects children like one's own eyes. We can do that very easily because our traditional culture has all the required ingredients to do this. We have a history that is 2500 years old. We have to mix good concepts coming from the West with our traditional concepts in order to make a better society for our children.