Monthly Highlights: May 2023

Awareness Programmes

Title: Protect Children in the Digital World.

Objective: Raise children’s awareness of online safety precautions and potential risks associated with using the internet

Sessions Conducted

Sessions Photographs

PEaCE Programme Officers Conducting Awareness Session in Gan Ima Primary School Elpitiya.

PEaCE Programme Officers Conducting Awareness Session in Karandeniya National School Elpitiya.

PEaCE Programme Officers Conducting Awareness Session in Elpitiya DS Office.

PEaCE Programme Officers Conducting Awareness Session in Elpitiya Primary School.

PEaCE Programme Officers Conducting Awareness Session in Welivitiya Divithura DS Office

PEaCE Programme Officers Conducting Awareness Session in Baddegama DS Office.

PEaCE Programme Officers Conducting Awareness Session in Thalgahawatte Kanishta Vidyalaya.

PEaCE Programme Officers Conducting Awareness Session in Madakumbura Jathika Pasala.

PEaCE Programme Officers Conducting Awareness Session in Karandeniya DS Office.

PEaCE Programme Officers Conducting Awareness Session in Radiant way preschool.

PEaCE Programme Officers Conducting Awareness Session in Anuruddha Maha Vidyalaya.

PEaCE Programme Officers Conducting Awareness Session in Niyagama DS Office.

Feedback from the Participants

• Elpitiya Primary School – Principal

Today’s program was a very successful program. The resource persons managed the program
very well, so we were able to take this program very well among our parents. Also, we were
able to reap the fruits of this program for the school because the parents were involved in the
program. Also, this awareness gave a lot of strength to the parents because it informed the
parents theoretically and practically about the many problems that the parents cannot talk about
directly and the parents are not aware of. For that, I am very thankful to the PEaCE organization

• Gan Ima College – A parent

Today, the discussion that the PEaCE Organization brought to our college was a very important
discussion for the parents as well as for our children. Most parents in our school are not
educated parents. Some parents have not studied beyond grades 2 and 3. Many of them work
as laborers, so they have no knowledge of children or how they should be treated, what kind of harassment they face. Therefore, this awareness program is very important for this generation
of children. And I think it is a discussion that is very important for parents for today and for the
future. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the PEaCE organization very, very,
very much.

Anuruddha College – A teacher
Q. What do you think about today’s program?
A – Actually, an issue about children that we do not see in today’s society was discussed here.
Q – Did you find this program useful?
A – I see this as a very important program for parents in these rural areas

Karandeniya Divisional Secretariat – A public official
Today, PEaCE came to our regional secretariat and a lecture was given on a timely topic by the
expert panel of the PEaCE organization. You involved all the officials like our office officials,
field officials, field economic development officials, Grama Niladhari, etc. PEaCE taught us that
it is a serious problem in the society. You taught us about child abuse, phone and internet abuse
and issues that need to be brought to society. This social mission is very valuable. I think it
would be great if this is taken to the village. It would be great if Dhamma school children could
also be given this kind of knowledge. Because there are many children who lack this kind of
knowledge in the Dhamma schools in our division. There are children who reside rural areas
with less knowledge than urban areas. If you give this knowledge to those children, we will be
very grateful. I think that this society can be put on the right path with this knowledge. Thank
you very much for this valuable session. Thank you very much for your time and support.

Comments by the Project Team

• The success of the program in equipping individuals with practical knowledge to
  safeguard against various types of online abuse is evident through the favourable
  feedback received from the participants during the awareness sessions.
  
• Participants voiced their inclination for organizing similar awareness sessions targeting
  government employees involved in safeguarding children’s rights. This request stems
  from the recognition that child abuse and exploitation persist as critical issues, often
  overlooked in public discussions.

• In its pursuit to raise awareness among pertinent officials nationwide, PEaCE aspires toconduct future programs like these. Such endeavours aim to foster a safer and morepromising future for our children, who hold the key to the upcoming generations.

Publications

• Newspaper Articles

No more excuses: Urgent need to strengthen child protection, published in the Morning.

“it is crucial to provide survivors of child abuse with access to counseling, therapy, and medical care. Survivors of child abuse often experience depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, and other mental health issues that need to be addressed. It is essential to provide them with appropriate care and support to aid in their recovery and healing. “

Click here to read the full article.

Child abuse incidents reported in the media in March

“In March 2023, we saw a sharp increase in violence against children, with 75 incidents of abuse reported in the media, compared to 53 in February. Of the 89 children identified as victims of these 75 incidents, 53 were female. The majority of the 81 abusers were either relatives of the victims or known to the victims. The incidents occurred across 21 districts. Sexual abuse continues to be the leading form of violence against children.”

https://www.themorning.lk/articles/BHJEXY9AmzdtYVwIqmEM

Rapid Rise in Publication of Child Sexual Abuse Material, published in Divayina

” 2021 වසරේ දී, ශ්‍රී ලංකා පොලිස් ළමා හා කාන්තා කාර්යාංශය ළමුන් හා සම්බන්ධ අසභ්‍ය වීඩියෝ දර්ශන සහ ඡායාරූප නිරීක්ෂණය කිරීම සඳහා ‘අතුරුදහන් වූ සහ සූරාකෑමට ලක් වූ ළමුන් සඳහා වූ ජාතික මධ්‍යස්ථානය’ නමින් විශේෂ ඒකකයක් පිහිටුවන ලදී. ඔවුන්ගේ වාර්තාවලට අනුව, 2021 වසරේ ජුනි මස 17 සිට ජූලි මස 28 දක්වා කාලය තුළ පමණක් එවැනි වීඩියෝ පට 17,629 ක් අප රට තුළින් අන්තර්ජාලයට උඩුගත කර ඇත. “

Click here to read full article.

External meetings

Corporal Punishment Conference by NCPA

PEaCE/ECPAT Sri lanka participated in the discussion regarding Corporal Punishment Conference by NCPA as an organization working with children. We contributed feedback with facts and stratergy of how other countries similar to our circumstances have successfully passed action.

Drafting 7th CRC report to the UNCRC Committee

PEaCE/ECPAT Sri lanka participated in the drafting 7th CRC report to the UNCRC commitee. We contributed to the report on child abuse particularly with regards to the sexual exploitation of boys in the travel and tourism sector. Also shared information on the online sexual exploitation of children.