UN child rights experts issue findings, urges govt to focus attention on economic exploitation, abuse

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has published its findings on Sri Lanka and 7 other countries which it examined during its latest session from 15 January to 2 February in Geneva. The countries included Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Panama, Seychelles, Spain, Solomon Islands, Palau and Marshall Islands.

The findings cover how the respective State is doing with regard to children’s rights, detailing positive developments, main areas of concern, and recommendations for action.

The findings recommended that Sri Lanka’s attention should be directed towards urgent measures such as: violence, including corporal punishment (para. 21), sexual exploitation and abuse (para. 23), economic exploitation, including child labour (para. 41), administration of juvenile justice (para. 45), and reconciliation, truth and justice."

Further the UN Committee has recommended that the country ensure that the "National Child Protection Authority is independent  reporting to a level above any one government department, and that it can continue to fully exercise its functions under any circumstances and is adequately resourced."

Read the full Concluding observations on the combined fifth and sixth periodic
reports of Sri Lanka