Workshop on women and child abuse

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

It is the responsibility of all to put an end to child abuse, and harassment against women, said several resource persons who participated in a workshop under the theme 'Men too can make a difference'.

The workshop was held in Colombo yesterday under the patronage of Child Development and Women's Affairs Minister Tissa Karaliyadda, ministers, parliamentarians, educationalists and several other intellectuals.

The workshop was educative since it focused its attention on women and child abuse. Throughout the workshop, resource persons pointed out the value of stopping child and women harassments considering they are also our family members.

"No one likes his or her family member being harassed. Similarly, persons who harass others should think that those who are harassed also has a mother, or a sister, a daughter or son like his own" Minister Karaliyadda said.

The Minister added that the seminar 'Men too can make a difference' is the initial step of a long programme which will do away with child and harassment of women.

Consultant Judicial Medical Officer, Dr. Ajith Tennakoon, pointed out that various violations are taking place daily against children and women as a result of negligence, cruelness, poverty and many other reasons.

It has been reported that many lives have also been lost due to violence and harassments.

DIG Galle Police, Vijaya Amarasooriya said that people have to control their emotions. Prior to committing any wrong it is up to them to refrain themselves from doing so. Once something happens they are unable to control the consequences.

It is then that the suspects are dealt with according to the civil law of the country, he added.

The Child Development and Women's Affairs Ministry will conduct the seminar 'Men too can make a difference" throughout the country aiming to make the people aware of protecting and safeguarding children and women, while reducing the number of harassments against them.