Spare the children !

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Children's photographs should not be used in any election campaigns and parents should not allow politicians to use their children for election campaigns.

If this happens it is a violation of child rights and there are relevant laws to take legal action against persons who do it, National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) Chairman, Jagath Wellawatta said.

He said parents allow their children and their photographs to be used in election campaigns. Sometimes politicians use photographs of children taken during prize giving ceremonies and similar occasions for their publicity campaigns. This causes several problems for the children, he said.

According to Wellawatta when politicians use photographs of children for their election campaigns, the children get psychologically abused.

Children and parents face unexpected social and psychological problems due to the adverse 'publicity' they get without their prior knowledge or approval.

The NCPA requested all politicians to refrain from using children's photographs for their election campaigns because it is against ethics.

The NCPA requested parents not to allow politicians to use the photographs of their children. It states that laws exist in connection with this issue and it is in the process of formulating more laws to stop this act.