Sri Lanka’s National Child Protection Authority has taken measures to launch a special program to eradicate the corporal punishment of children in all places including schools, daycare centers and children’s homes in this year.
Sri Lanka at the Review of the 5th & 6th Periodic Reports of Sri Lanka to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in Geneva last month also has paid special attention on the corporal punishment.
“We are also concerned about the matter of corporal punishment, and are determined to take measures to tackle the issue,” Secretary, Ministry Chandrani Senaratne said in her opening statement at the review.
According to the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the responsible parties should pay special attention to eliminate the physical punishment of children in the country.
Accordingly, as a first step, the authorities expect to enlighten the principals and teachers of all the schools on the Circular No. 12 of 2016 -Safeguarding Discipline in Schools.
According to the circular, physical punishment in schools has been banned. The circular also lists alternative measures to replace corporal punishment.
The authorities expect to enlighten the school administrators, principals, and teachers on the adverse effects children may suffer as a result of physical punishment and how it will affect the overall long-term decline in their lives.
The NCPA says the child abuse cases, especially, in international schools have been reported to the Authority and these special programs are expected to be implemented in these international schools as well.
The National Child Protection Authority has paid special attention to the physical abuse of children and measures have been taken to launch a special awareness program to enlighten the related institutions.
