Marking the International Day to End Corporal Punishment, the Stop Child Cruelty Trust (SCC) and the Child Protection Alliance (CPA) organised ‘Our Children’, a compelling advocacy initiative to combat violence against children in Sri Lanka. The event featured an expert forum on child protection strategies and celebrated the winners of the ‘Me Unhurt – Stop Child Abuse’ art competition, amplifying youth voices in the fight for their rights.
In February 2025, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that ending corporal punishment was a public health priority. Each year, 1.8 million children worldwide are subjected to corporal punishment. In some countries, violence against children costs up to six times what is invested in health. Countries that have enacted comprehensive prohibitions against corporal punishment are granting children the same protective legal framework against assault as adults.
In March 2025, forty countries made the first-ever joint statement on corporal punishment to the Human Rights Council, declaring that ending corporal punishment is a human rights priority for children. Children have the fundamental right to protection from all forms of violence. This right is essential for their well-being, safety, survival and development. It recognises the severe and lasting consequences of violence against children, not just for the individual child but for society as a whole.
Despite being recognised in 2017 as the sole Pathfinding country in South Asia committed to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.2 (ending violence against children), Sri Lanka’s efforts have faltered. The National Partnership to End Violence Against Children (NPEVAC), established to drive this agenda, dissolved in 2018. At the 2024 Bogotá Ministerial Conference, the government pledged to enact the Penal Code Reforms Bill to Abolish Corporal Punishment, a long-overdue measure and to implement teacher training programmes by mid-2025. However, legislative delays and inadequate enforcement undermine these commitments.
Speaking at the event, Dr Tush Wickramanayaka, Founder Chairperson of SCC and Co-convener of CPA, shared her disappointment that GOSL was delaying the submission of the Bill in parliament, which was already passed in Cabinet by the previous government on 13/09/2024. “Physical abuse of children is a preventable crime that has been normalised in society. Each day, there are horrendous incidents reported in the media. GOSL has a national and international obligation to fulfil its promises to eradicate this menace towards the dawn of a happier and safer future for the true beneficiaries of the future, our children”, said Dr Wickramanayaka.
Om Prakash Sen Thakuri, Executive Director, Legal Literacy, Nepal, was a special invitee and child rights advocate who spoke on Nepal’s efforts to stop child marriages, a critical issue relevant also in Sri Lanka. Whilst Nepal banned corporal punishment in all settings in 2018, the implementation of the laws was still challenging.
Saranga Disasekara, Actor and Brand Ambassador of #NOguti explained, “At a time when Sri Lanka is crippled in many aspects of society, parents must improve communication with their children and ensure their children can come to them without fear if there is any concern relating to their well-being; child protection is a collective social responsibility.”
Dr Gehan Gunathilake, Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), reiterated that children need to be recognised as rights holders and their welfare and safety should be at the heart of governance mechanisms. He informed that HRCSL has established a special child rights section to better focus on these issues.
Rtd DIG Priyantha Jayakody, a respected figure in law enforcement, explained, “Child abuse is now one of the top grave crimes in Sri Lanka. The Police must act more vigorously to ensure the evidence is submitted to the courts without delays to avoid the burden on law and order and the judicial services. He was particularly concerned about the 40,000 cases of child abuse awaiting justice and encouraged the government to act swiftly.
Prof Sarath Wijesuriya, renowned author and social activist, spoke on the collective responsibility of society in protecting children. He too insisted that children are the most vulnerable community in any country and the government should act beyond the rhetoric to ensure safety and welfare as a priority.
A key highlight of the event was the award ceremony for the winners of the ‘Me Unhurt – Stop Child Abuse’ art competition and the forum discussion with some of the winners on their views and expectations of a country that promotes and protects child rights. Prof Savitri Goonesekere, Emeritus Professor of Law, Faculty of Colombo, was the Chief Guest. She delivered a powerful message on the implementation of the law. Whilst highlighting the shocking 40,000 cases of child abuse awaiting justice for years, Prof Goonesekere warned, the law is not for the people who respect it; the law is for the people who violate it. When there is impunity and a lack of prosecution, then you give a powerful message of legitimacy.”
The ‘Me Unhurt’ competition, judged by Shyamala Pinto Jayawardena (Shyamala School of Art) and Mihiri Devendra (Leap), received over 500 submissions nationwide. The winning designs by Chathuni Sandaleka and David Suarez (both 17) will grace the cover of ‘Our Children’, a forthcoming anthology of survivor narratives. Seventeen additional entrants earned high commendation for their artworks. In an interactive youth forum where the participants were asked to imagine they were President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, winners proposed bold reforms including Child-inclusive policymaking (e.g., youth advisory councils). Safer schools with anti-bullying protocols and Adult accountability through community monitoring. Their ideas resonated with attendees, including families and educators, underscoring the power of youth leadership.
Dr Tush Wickramanayaka, who turned adversity to advocacy and is a staunch advocate of child rights, explained that ‘Our Children’ book was a labour of love, a deep love and decades of hope. The art competition provided an opportunity for the young citizens to express their thoughts and feelings in creative masterpieces. The expressive images empower the voice of the victims and the public, highlighting the collective social responsibility to protect children. “The book is in the final stages of editing, and we hope to publish it in 2026. For now, we have created a leaflet of the artworks so that you can enjoy the visual tapestry of the young minds that tells us of the world they envisage. It is a sneak preview of the stories to follow…”, explained Dr Wickramanayaka.
For further information, media inquiries, or to get involved with the Stop Child Cruelty Trust, please contact www.stopchildcruelty.com or 077-1656867.
