Child Safety Week by Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association

Tuesday, 24 June 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Waruni Paranagamage For the first time, under the theme of ‘Child Safety – The Nation’s Top Priority,’ the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association will be holding a Child Safety Week from 25 June to 1 July. The event will mark the start of the SLGGA’s 1,000 days to 100 years birthday celebration in March 2017. Child abuse and sex commercials as well as child labour are serious issues across the world and in Sri Lanka. The SLGGA is coming forward to campaign in this regard with the stance “Who better than the Girl Guides to campaign against child abuse?” The event will cover all aspects of child safety, including the home, the neighbourhood, food, transport and the role of media in child protection. Covering seven themes for seven days, ideas and experience will be shared by eminent decision makers, provincial politicians, the business community, NGOs, champions and other partners of the SLGGA on that day. National Child Protection Authority Deputy Chairperson Sujatha Kulatunga stated that the NCPA has implemented many steps for child protection. “We have formulated a national policy which was forwarded to the Cabinet. Each district has appointed two officers to look into child abuse cases. With the support of midwifes, the Police and other authorities in the regional areas, we gather information and investigate child abuse cases.” She added that many laws have been introduced by the authority to the media in relation to reporting on child abuse incidents but that the program should be held again.The event will include debates, discussions, dramas by children, rally type gatherings, local media gatherings, children drawing and displaying posters, small exhibitions, house-to-house campaigns and many such features. Small gatherings or walks will be held each day on the theme, with district commissioners, all key government officers at district and divisional level, education staff, religious leaders, the business community, NGOs and the media. Global Human Rights Advocate Radhika Coomaraswamy said that all countries are facing a rapid growth in child abuse cases and authorities must consider the safety of the children, who can be abused physically, sexually and physiologically. “The other terrible thing happening in Sri Lanka is corporal punishment. We are delivering message to the future community that we can teach good habits to children by corporal punishments. But it must be reconsidered.” Established in 1917, today SLGGA is run by volunteers with a very few paid staff. Many successful women have passed out through its ranks, having been grounded in leadership, skills development, value education and building a sisterhood which is not comparable to any other. The SLGGA is a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and takes on many global campaigns, especially related to the Millennium Development Goals. The first woman Prime Minister of the world, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, was an active Girl Guide.