National project to expedite processing child abuse cases

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

A national project will be launched for the expeditious processing and passage of cases of child abuse by the criminal justice system of Sri Lanka and for the prevention of secondary victimization of victims of child abuse.

The programme is carried out by the Justice Ministry, the Attorney General's Department, Department of Police and the Health Ministry with the technical assistance and support of UNICEF.

It is launched to give priority to child abuse cases in the several phases of the criminal justice system. The pilot programme of this project will be launched on October 1 in the High Court Zones of Gampaha and Polonnaruwa.

Delay in the investigation, prosecution and final disposal of cases of physical and sexual abuse of children have caused much concern to those genuinely and sincerely interested in the wellbeing and protection of children. Statistics have shown that cases of child abuse take an average of seven years before it is finally concluded after a protracted trial. The reasons for such delay are many and is possibly not unique to cases of child abuse.

This new initiative is intended to expedite the processing and disposal of cases of child abuse in less than one year from the date of the complaint to the police.

This is sought to be achieved by enlisting the support and cooperation of all stakeholders involved in the process of criminal justice. Primarily the project is aimed at expediting the process of criminal and forensic investigations, consideration of the institution of criminal proceedings, launching of the trial and the progress and conclusion of the trial. The programme is initially implemented in the High Court Zones of Gampaha and Polonnaruwa as the areas have recorded a considerably large number of child abuse cases.

If the pilot phase of the project is successful, it will be gradually expanded to cover other areas of the country, including the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

The project also aims to encourage the adoption of child friendly and sensitive approaches at the criminal and forensic investigations phase and during judicial proceedings.

The first awareness programme and workshop of this project for approximately 80 officers of government institutions servicing the criminal justice system including those coming into direct contact with child abuse victims was conducted on September 6 and 7 at Waters Edge, Battaramulla. The programme was inaugurated by Acting Attorney General Eva Wanasundera with the participation of Justice Ministry Secretary Suhada Gamalath, Additional Solicitor General in charge of the criminal division of the Attorney General's Department Palitha Fernando, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police V N J Navaratne, National Protection Authority Chairperson Anoma Dissanayake, Consultant Judicial Medical Officer Colombo Dr Ananda Samarasekara and UNICEF Country Representative Reza Hosseiniin.