Child Protection Month launched

Taking a novel approach to commemorate Children’s Day, Stop Child Cruelty Trust (SCC) launched the ‘#JustANumber Child Protection Month’ to increase awareness of the fundamental rights of children through various public programmes.

The highlight of the virtual event was the introduction of the first initiative taken under the #JustANumber Child Protection Month - a National Art and Speech Competition. The competition aims to create a platform for children as young as six years up to 18 years to share their own perspective on the country’s child protection crisis and encourage them to directly get involved in the decision making related to their welfare.

For more details regarding the competition, please visit www.facebook.com/groups/211381800981039.

Speaking at the launch, Chairperson of Stop Child Cruelty Trust, Dr. Tush Wickramanayaka, “Even with the unprecedented rise in child abuse on our paradise island, the relevant authorities appear to be crippled in their efforts to protect and promote our children's rights. Child protection is a collective social responsibility and Stop Child Cruelty is fully committed to becoming the powerful force behind increasing knowledge and engagement to empower Sri Lankans across the country to recognise the child as a rights holder.”

Addressing the event as the Chief Guest was former President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

While reflecting on the tremendous achievements of the special Child Protection Task Force of experts during her tenure, Mrs Kumaratunga reiterated that Government authorities should resolve the child protection crisis effectively without politicising matters by working cohesively with Non-Governmental Organisations. “Child protection is the ultimate measurement of the level of civilization in a society and I applaud the efforts of Stop Child Cruelty Trust in establishing the Child Protection Alliance to find solutions to the current child protection crisis in Sri Lanka,” she stated. Hon. Kumaratunga will also be the judge of the National Art and Speech Competition.

Professor Savithri Goonesekere, Emeritus Professor of Law and former Vice Chancellor at the University of Colombo was the keynote speaker at the event. As a former member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, Prof. Goonesekere has been actively contributing towards legal and policy child protection reforms. “Strengthening law enforcement by rejecting the proverbial rhetoric by relevant authorities and responding to child cruelty by engaging with children is a creative strategy and perhaps the one effective way to address Sri Lanka’s child protection crisis.”

The #JustANumber Child Protection Month will be hosting a range of events including a series of online forums that will take place every weekend from October 1 until the November 20, 2021.

For more, visit www.facebook.com/stopchildcruelty. Those interested in getting involved towards the protection of children in Sri Lanka can visit www.stopchildcruelty.com or email info@stopchildcruelty.com.