Kudos for new 24-hour hotline to report abuse, violence against children, women

There was positive news this week announcing the launch by the Sri Lanka Police of a 24-hour hotline dedicated to receiving reports of abuse and violence against children and women. The new unit, the Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women, was opened at the Police Children & Women’s Bureau and the public were encouraged to submit complaints and share information related to abuse through the designated hotline – 109.

This is indeed a welcome move given that child abuse and violence against women is an increasing cause of concern and dismay. The magnitude of child abuse in the country was detailed by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Police Children and Women’s Bureau, Renuka Jayasundara recently when she disclosed that nearly 98,000 cases of child abuse have been reported by mid-December 2023. While she said this shows a decline from the 146,000 child abuse cases reported in 2022, the current figures are way too high and shows the vulnerability of children in society to abuse by adults, many at the hands of their own family members or relatives and other close acquaintances.

Among a new threat that many children in Sri Lanka and the world face is that of being forced into pornography with explicit videos of children shared online. DIG Jayasundara said that Sri Lanka has joined the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICEMC) which partners with leading technology companies and the financial industry to identify and develop new global solutions that protect children from sexual abuse, exploitation, and the risk of going missing.

ICME provides tools, training, and technology to governments, law enforcement, policymakers, industry, civil society, educators, healthcare professionals, and others across the globe with the goal of making the world a safer place for all children. Sri Lanka has benefited from the system with tip-offs from other nations, helping to crackdown on child abusers and exploiters, DIG Jayasundara said.

While international cooperation is crucial to protect children from online child phonography, there are many other forms of child abuse rampant in the country with children facing more neglect and abuse than many others in society due to the increase in poverty levels.

Due to the economic crisis, there is an increased risk of children dropping out from schools with the children in the estate sector most affected and number as the largest group stopping their education mid-way due to economic hardships. Before the economic crisis in 2020 the number of students in Government schools was 4,063,685. However, the number reduced to 4,048,937 in 2021, a recent report by the Education Ministry showed.

There is also an increase in the use of children for begging and it is a common sight in cities to see infants being exposed to harsh weather conditions such as rain and sun by unscrupulous adults.

During a recent meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women, Children Affairs and Social Empowerment, it was revealed that there are numerous instances where children are hired for begging with some children being given drugs to keep them sedated. Despite legal provisions to act against such miscreants, there is no proper implementation.

These are a few facets of child abuse that take place in our society. The increase in poverty has led to a worsening of the situation in the past two years; hence any action to focus attention on this area needs to be lauded. 

A hotline to report cases of abuse and violence against children and women is welcome and timely. The public can only hope that the hotline is operated efficiently and effectively.