Child abuse remains a critical issue in Sri Lanka, as highlighted by ECPAT Sri Lanka’s media monitoring report for August 2024. This analysis provides a sobering insight into the various forms of violence affecting children and underscores the pervasive nature of the problem.
Overview of Reported Incidents
In August 2024, 94 incidents involving 108 victims of child abuse were reported through media coverage. These cases span diverse forms of abuse, each with significant impacts on children’s well-being.
Types of Abuse
- Sexual Abuse: The most reported category, with 41 incidents affecting 51 children.
- Physical Abuse: Documented in 16 cases, involving 24 victims.
- Neglect: Reported in 12 cases, impacting 10 children.
- Abductions: 4 cases affecting 4 children.
- Other Forms: Included suicide (5 cases), homicide (3 victims), emotional abuse, missing children, and drug-related incidents.
Victim Demographics
The analysis revealed significant gender disparities among victims:
- Girls: 57 victims (53%).
- Boys: 41 victims (38%).
- Unspecified gender: 10 victims (9%).
These figures highlight the vulnerability of children across all genders, with many cases likely going unreported due to societal stigma and other barriers.
Perpetrators and Relationships with Victims
Most cases (64.89%) involved individual perpetrators, while group-perpetrated incidents accounted for 24.47%. Perpetrators were often people in positions of trust:
- Authority figures: Involved in 26 cases (24.07%).
- Family members and intimate partners: Each accounted for 13 cases (12.04%).
- Peers/schoolmates: Responsible for 8 cases (7.41%).
- Strangers: Involved in 6 cases (5.56%).
The data underscores how trust and proximity are frequently exploited in abusive scenarios.
Locations of Abuse
Incidents were reported in varied settings, reflecting the widespread nature of the problem:
- Homes: The most common setting, involving 26 victims (24.07%).
- Community settings: 21 incidents affecting 24 victims.
- Educational facilities: Accounted for 20.21% of cases, involving 27 children.
- Other locations: Perpetrators’ homes, digital spaces, and care facilities were also reported, although less frequently.
Geographic Distribution
Certain districts showed higher concentrations of cases:
- Monaragala: 11 incidents affecting 14 children (13% of total victims).
- Anuradhapura and Kalutara: Each recorded 10 incidents.
- Colombo: 8 incidents involving 7 victims.
- Other districts, including Kandy, Gampaha, and Ratnapura, also contributed to the overall numbers.
The findings from August 2024 paint a stark picture of violence against children in Sri Lanka. While these reports provide critical insights, they likely represent only a fraction of the actual cases, as many remain hidden due to stigma and underreporting. The data calls attention to the urgent need for continued vigilance and action to protect children and uphold their rights.
