Say ‘no’ to child abuse – PPR unit

Yasaratne GAMAGE

In a special media release, the Police Public Relations Unit (PPR) unit said in 2011, incidents of assault on children were 252, whereas from January to March 2012, there were 90 incidents of child assault and injury. Nearly 1,169 cases were reported where girls under 16 were raped. But in the first quarter of 2012 the figure has risen to 317.

There were 11 cases of incest reported, and 27 children killed in 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, 5 incest cases were reported, and 14 children murdered in violent incidents. Of the cases reported in 2011 and the first quarter in 2012, 95 percent have been taken for hearing and offenders punished. Guardians, relatives and neighbours committed most of the crimes against children as reported from January 2011 to March 2012.

The number of complaints lodged on domestic violence has increased, the PPR unit said. Investigations by the police revealed children were victimized mostly by people who were close to them.

To investigate crime against children and domestic violence, women police officers were continuously on duty in 43 Children and Women’s Bureaus, covering every police division throughout the island. They also operate in Pagoda and Nugegoda.

Sri Lanka Police, Attorney General Office, Ministry of Justice, Judicial Medical Office, Child Care and Probation Department, together with United Nations Children’s Fund carry out the pilot projects in Gampaha, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura to bring those responsible to book. Those found guilty will be punished within 6 months.

The report states 142 cases of domestic violence were reported in 2011, while101 women were murdered. The number of rape cases reported are 607.

There has been an increase in domestic violence in 2012; 80 complaints were lodged in the first quarter.

During the same period, 14 women were killed and 59 raped. The police arrested 65 women found to be engaged in prostitution.

The PPR unit said the statistics of children and women related crimes are released to pave the way for an open discussion and start a forum to say ‘no’ to child abuse and domestic violence.

The police and the Children and Women’s Bureau conducted 1,4311 awareness seminars to minimize child crimes and domestic violence.

The first quarter of 2012 saw 5,280 awareness programmes islandwide to make a safe environment for children and women.

The police requests people to report incidents where children and women are harassed to National Child Protection Authority on 1929 and to Children and Women’s Bureau on 011-2826444.