National Child Protection Authority Bill

"We must ensure safety of the children in terms of armed conflicts"

Parliament met at 9.30 a.m. Tuesday 8th September, 1998, with Speaker K. B. Ratnayaka in the chair.

Speaker, announced that the President has communicated to him the Proclamation she made to extend the State of Emergency in the whole island, by one more month.

He also announced that he certified the Turnover Tax (Amendment) Bill which was passed by the House earlier.

After reports were presented by Ministers and petitions were presented, Oral Questions were answered by the minister.

House thereafter resumed the adjourned debate on the National Child Protection Bill.

Mahinda Amaraweera (PA-Hambantota District) This is an exclusive debate where both sides of the house, are extending their unstinted support. There is an issue I wish to bring before the minister. There are a large number of children condemned to a life within prison cells, because their mothers are serving prison sentences.

The government has stipulated that only over 18 year olds have to be recruited to the army. But the reality is far from this. Children are lured to join the military from both sides.

Jayalath Jayawardane (UNP-National list) said: There are 21 members of this House in the Parliamentary Lobby on Child Protection. Its secretary Dallas Alahapperuma MP, Matara District, has done a lot of work so far for the promotion of the rights of the child and to ensure the protection of child rights.

Today the emphasis in the society is the sexual abuse of children. At a time when we are considering this Bill we must go a little beyond this.

I would appeal to the minister to include the 54 points of the United Nations’ Child Rights Protection Convention.

We must ensure the safety of children in times of armed conflicts. Children are the victims of untold suffering. Many live in refugee camps. There are disabled children who are subject to various forms of disadvantages and deprivation.

All these matters should receive attention.

The proposed National Child Protection Authority Bill should be broadened to include in it persons and organisations that have taken a keen interest in the welfare of children. At present the authority is a body predominated by bureaucrats. This does not seem to be satisfactory.

The authority should be an independent one. Only then can it function properly under any government. The authority will be able to intervene, when the rights of a child is denied any where in the country and at any time.

Samaraweera Werawanni, Deputy Minister of Planning said: This authority is bound to ensure the overall development of the child. The definition of child abuse range from physical to mental harassment. The causes of child abuse is complex, ranging from social to economical factors.

One eminent scientist has pointed out that the basic unit of society the household, decides the conduct of the child. The parents and elders who should protect these children abuse them and push them into illegal acts. The authority should delve deep into these issues to rectify and lay the foundation for a healthy society. Even schools that should protect children who are abused in their domestic atmosphere, don’t offer them the necessary protection most often.

Joseph Michael Perera (UNP-Gampaha District): Although we differ on most other debates we have to agree with all issues raised in this debate. We give support to the setting up of the authority, but this authority has to address many other issues including malnutrition. Children are not an organised group that will fight for their rights.

We don’t need specialists to probe deeply into the discrimination against children belonging to the poorer sections of society. This bill is not going to work miracles. Improving the economic conditions of children is more important. What is the use of the secrecy clause in this bill.

Colombo schools receive unlimited facilities. The village school children suffer from malnutrition. Do we need an authority to understand this. Late President Premadasa implemented schemes to stop the discrimination of poor children. Activate the "Nutritious meal" system in schools. We should rally together to implement child protection measures, and eradicate discrimination of poor children.

(Contd. Tomorrow)