More child abuse victims among expat worker families

Suraj A Bandara

A majority of child abuse cases are reported in families whose breadwinners are employed abroad.

This is in particular so when the mother is abroad, a National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) study revealed.The NCPA is planning to create a mechanism to prevent mothers going abroad in a situation where their children are in need of mother’s protection.

Every mother who seeks overseas employment should prove that she is not a mother of very young children.

An acceptable transparent system will be adopted to identify mothers’ real facts, NCPA sources said. Approval will be given for those mothers coming up with a proper arrangement of looking after her children during her absence in the country. An NCPA press release said that this program is to be introduced to minimize child abuses and give children proper protection when mother is away.

NCPA sources said the ‘Child Line’, 24 hour hotline service receives nearly 2,000 telephone calls regarding various types of child abuses throughout the country.The ‘Child Line’ hotline service was introduced by the NCPA to eradicate child abuse and assist helpless children. Complaints and tip-off on child abuse and children seeking protection can be forwarded through the NCPA 24 hour hotline 1929.

The service can be utilized by any person or even a child on any sort of child-related issue such as child abuse, harassment, child labour, complains and so on.