Parliamentary Committee explores ways of preventing delays in trials of child abuse cases

The Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Children, Women and Gender drew its attention towards the prevention of delays in trial pertaining to the cases of child abuse. The social, mental and physical prejudice caused to the victim due to such delay was further discussed at the Committee meeting held recently. Accordingly, the Committee decided to investigate the measures that can be taken to avoid this situation, Parliament's Department of Communications stated.

The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women and Gender met on 25.05.2023 at the Parliament under the chairmanship of MP Thalatha Athukorala.

It was also suggested that the decisions made by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women and Gender held from 2015 to 2020 should be carried forward. The Committee also decided that the issues that could not reach agreement post discussion should be reconsidered.

This committee recognized that law should be included as a subject for the school education syllabus. Accordingly, it was also suggested that the matter should be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education.

The Committee recognized that law should be included as a subject in the school education syllabus. Accordingly, it was also suggested that the matter should be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education.

Although women going abroad for domestic work brings foreign exchange to the country, the cost to the government indirectly due to the problems and social problems that arise in the family due to the woman leaving their home was also discussed. It was further discussed that instead of sending women to domestic work, they should be given professional training and directed to better jobs.

Moreover, foreign employment agencies with issues of legitimacy and concerns of foreign workers not being properly resolved due to irregularities in the embassies were further addressed. It was also suggested that a program should be prepared to regulate the related process. The Committee drew attention to the problems faced by Sri Lankan workers due to the lack of protection centers for workers in some countries. The Members agreed that the Committee will monitor these issues in the future.

MPs Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, Uddika Premarathne, Rajika Wickramasinghe, Manjula Dissanayake, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Jagath Samarawickrama and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa were present at the Committee meeting.