Child abuse and death penalty

1 August 2012 06:30 pm - 10 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

By Sarasi Paranamanna
The subject of imposing the death penalty revives every time brutal and heinous crimes are committed in the country. The death penalty has not been executed in Sri Lanka after 1978. However with the recent wave of crime against children, the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs has decided to impose the death penalty for child abusers.

Although execution of the death penalty has not been exercised since 1978 the imposition of the death penalty for child abusers is entirely a new move as the death sentence was given mostly for murder and drug related cases in Sri Lanka. Hence while many have welcomed this move, debates have also sparked among many groups as to whether death penalty is the only answer to curb child molestations. Daily Mirror spoke to several key figures to be acquainted with their opinions about bringing the death penalty for child abusers.

Priority to child rights
While a child’s body was found in a canal in Kirulapone after molesting and strangling her, another incident was reported from Tangalle where a thirteen year old girl was repeatedly raped by local businessmen. The recent spate of child abuse incidents sent shockwaves around the country and many activists and groups called upon the authorities to take immediate action to secure the safety of the children in this country.

In the backdrop of this situation Tissa Karaliyadda, Minister of Child Development and Women’s Affairs speaking to Daily Mirror said that though the very topic of death penalty attracts criticism from human rights activists it is important to prioritize the rights of the children.

“In this situation the nation calls for the recognition of child rights. We do recognize the rights of suspects but we have made this decision to bring the death penalty so that it will act as a deterrent in the future for other offenders” he said.
In Sri Lanka the death penalty is mostly imposed for the murder and drug related offences but however Karaliyadda pointed out that the increasing rate of child abuse can be curbed if the death penalty is imposed for child abusers as well. He emphasized that prioritizing the rights of children is national requirement in order to tackle this adverse trend.

“Strict action needs to be taken against these offenders as a child does not deserve to be harmed psychologically or physically in any manner and it should be publicized as well. Since Sri Lanka has not executed the death penalty since 1978 we have proposed to amend legislation so that the child abuser will not be entitled to common amnesty or suspended sentencing” he claimed.

Will the death penalty act as deterrent?
Chairman of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission Dr. Prathibha Mahanama Hewa is of the view that imposing the death penalty will not be a deterrent. While he claimed that the effects of imposing the death penalty will be short term he pointed out that there are several countries where the death penalty is executed but still the child abuse rate has not seen a significant decrease.

“In countries like U.S.A, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia though the death penalty is imposed the child abuse rates have not decreased. It shows that the death penalty does not have a major impact on the offenders’ mentality for them to deter from committing the crime. However there are other steps which need to be taken to tackle the issue of the child abuse” he said. Dr, Mahanama Hewa suggested that a feasibility study could be done in a district prone to child abuse. He said that the government officials, divisional secretaries, child protection authorities get together and identify ways that the society can be educated on how to protect children from child abusers. He highlighted that imposing the death penalty is an act which is done after the damage is done to the child and added that through awareness programmes and community initiatives children could be protected before the child goes through any harm.

According to Police statistics 70% of the rape cases are statutory rapes cases. Thus Professor Mahanama Hewa pointed out that a special court system should be established especially to hear cases of crimes against the children. While noting that Sri Lanka has already ratified and recognized many international laws prescribed for the safety of children he said that a witness protection Act and victims protection Act should be drafted to ensure that the litigation against the child abusers cannot be defeated by intimidating the victims and witnesses.
He also stressed on the point that legislative changes were not sufficient to tackle this issue.

“The need to address the menace of pornography is important in this context. Also the low quality teledramas , substance abuse are causes for child abuse because these factors directly manoeuver the human mind into unnatural habits. A constructive dialogue should spring up from the society itself as the authorities alone cannot find an answer to this problem” he said.

Death penalty is not the sole answer
Professor M.W. Jayasundara head of the Criminology Department at the University of Sri Jayawardenapura pointed out that while the death penalty has short term effects a social change would be the most viable long term answer to address the rising rate of child abuse.

He said that substance abuse, unemployment and pornography were the main causes for the child abusers to commit these crimes. He also noted that the depiction of sex in the media and the change in the value system may also be the other root causes for children to be considered as sex objects by these offenders.

“When the death penalty was effective in Sri Lanka crimes did happen although it was not necessarily child abuse. However the same theory can be applied. Even though the death penalty can act as a deterrent in the punishment aspect in terms of curbing child abuse the society needs to identify with a value system which recognizes the rights of children. It cannot be done overnight but if all authorities collaborate a change can be made” he said.

Professor Jayasundara also noted that familial relationships need to be strengthened to protect children from offenders while highlighting that prevention is a better option than taking action after the incident takes place.
He also noted that rehabilitation was not an effective method for child abusers are the chance of relapsing into that condition is greater if the social conditions which caused him to be an offender are still present.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 10

wijesena withana Thursday, 02 August 2012 01:07 AM

Before introducing death penalty so many most important steps have to be taken according to the existing law . I feel existing law which was amended since 1995 to 2006 is quit strong only the weakness is improper implementation and the lack of knowledge of the law enforcement officers and interference to investigations.Will have to ask from the govt why the juvenile justice reform committee report 2009 is not implemented before imposing the death penalty

Gamini Weerasinghe Thursday, 02 August 2012 02:43 AM

Arrests have been made of only 28,000 to whom warrents are issed there are many more at large

Observer Thursday, 02 August 2012 03:56 AM

Death penalty ,together with Chemical castration ,depending on the merits of each case may provide a reasonable solution.

future Thursday, 02 August 2012 05:07 AM

I think severe punishment should be imposed on the culprits and publicly exposed... punishment for culprits will reduce crime and the general public will be aware and be away to do such.. like in middle east, the crime rate is low since the punishment is in publish for example stone to death, cutting the finger etc.
This government should be tough with laws to protect the women and children being abused, harassed, raped.

justice Thursday, 02 August 2012 07:03 AM

I think the data that is reported probably is not representative of actual figures. Due to cultural reasons I feel most of these horrendous crimes are never out in the open and children and women suffer silently.
Maintaining confidentiality, respecting the abused and having avenues for victims to get support and report cases should be in place. Public awareness campaigns are essential.
I think public penalties and societal pressures should take place. People who are convicted of rape etc should have severe punishments and publicly humiliated so they will teach a lesson to others.

Jayraj Thursday, 02 August 2012 12:48 PM

Expose the culprits, photos of the culprits should be published with names.

Sonali De Silva Thursday, 02 August 2012 06:45 PM

Germany practices surgical castration and are not going to abolish it even though they are under pressure. This law should be brought to Sri Lanka. This way we don't kill but it will solve the problem of rape and other sexual offenses.

ප්‍රේමකුමර් ලමාහේවා Friday, 03 August 2012 07:55 AM

මේක දැක්කම මට මතක් වෙන්නෙ අර කොස් ගෙඩියට මිනී මරන්න හදපු රජතුමාගේ කතාව. හැම වැරද්දටම මරණ දඬුවම දෙන්න ගියොත් මේ ලෝකේ එක මිනිහෙක්වත් ඉතුරු වෙන්නේ නෑ. කරන්න ඕනේ මරණ දඬුවම ක්‍රියාත්මක කරන එක නෙමෙයි දැනට තියෙන දඬුවම් හරියට ක්‍රියාත්මක කරන එක. දේශපාලකයන්ට එක විදියකුත් සාමාන්‍ය මිහිහාට තව විදියකටත් නැතුව.

brad Saturday, 04 August 2012 02:06 AM

____________________________________
Before introducing death penalty public shouold be informed properly what are the crime and waht are not crime.
______________________________

exaple if a 18 years boy did sex with a 15 years old girl its not a crime. (age gap is less than 5 years when one persone is underage) But if a 30 years old man sex with a 15 years old girl then its a crime.

prince Saturday, 04 August 2012 07:41 AM

It is high time perhaps overdue that some meaningful action is taken against those who perpetrate crimes against children and women.We have talked enough on this subject.There should be a speedy process that cases relating to child abuse and rape are heard and decided within 3 months so that these shamelss people can be punished immediately.This will definitely serve as a deterrant to others.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Child abuse and death penalty

Comments - 10

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Train fails to halt, crashes onto Colombo Fort platform

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Ranil Wickremesinghe caravan moves on despite barking dogs

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

MIRROR CRICKET

Is Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer ever?

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Main man behind Sri Lanka -Malaysia child smuggling syndicate arrested at BIA

Six patients claim Rs.600 million from Keheliya and others for permanent loss of sight

SLPP, UNP initiates action for forming broad alliance

Here is the way!

Sri Lanka secures third spot in South Asian Kurash Championship 2024

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Army forms committee to probe Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross accident

Indian cricket manager indicted for Legend Cricket League match-fixing allegations