Child
abuse increasing
By N. Dilshath Banu
Crimes against children have increased this year, according to the
Women and Children’s Bureau in the Police. This was disclosed
at a discussion police officials had with officials of other Government
bodies and NGOs, to come to a consensus on combating crimes against
women and children.
“Crimes
against children have gone up because of poverty and illiteracy.
In some cases, mothers have gone abroad and their children don’t
have a suitable environment to grow,” Director of the Bureau
for Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women, SSP L.L. Cecil Perera
said.
He
said most of the abuses are committed not by strangers, but by those
close to the family. According to Bureau statistics, up to April
this year 769 abuse cases had been reported as against 661 cases
in the corresponding period last year.
Ratnapura
district had the highest number with 65 cases reported and Anuradhapura
district second with 57 cases.Rape was the most common crime committed
against children with 269 cases, with other sexual abuses coming
second.
“
We are conducting awareness programme island wide in schools to
create awareness among children and others to prevent and also to
report child abuse cases” said SSP Perera. |