High number of child abuse incidents reported in Colombo

There have been a high number of child abuse incidents reported in Colombo between 2010 and 2012, Parliament was informed today.

Minister of Child Development and Women’s Empowerment Tissa Karaliyadda said that in 2012 there were 46 child abuse cases reported in Colombo. The figure stood at 15 in 2010 and 34 in 2011, the Minister said in response to a question raised by UNP MP Rosy Senanayake in Parliament. Senanayake asked what the government was doing to curb the increase in child abuse and if there were politicians involved in most of the cases. Karaliyadda responded by saying he did not have details on politicians being involved but overall the National Child Protection Authority was working with the police to curb child abuse. He also said that the government was looking at proposals to prevent women with underage children from being given employment overseas.