Invest for tomorrow, invest in children - EDITORIAL

19 November 2015 07:05 pm - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Today is Universal Children’s Day. Going beyond words, it means a recommitment by all governments to the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child -- the right to life, to health, to education and to play, the right to family life, to be protected from violence, not be discriminated and to have their views heard.

On December 14, 1954, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution recommending that all countries should mark a Universal Children’s Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding among children and activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. November 20 marks the day on which the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. This convention is the most widely ratified international human rights treaty.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a message that what all children have in common are their rights. Every child has the right to live and thrive, to be educated, to be free from violence and abuse, to participate and to be heard.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Sri Lanka branch in a message says, it deplores any form of violence against children including sexual abuse, harassment, rape and sexual exploitation in prostitution or pornography. All children have rights and need to be protected from violence so that they can grow up to be healthy citizens.

UNICEF says while there has been a rise in reported incidents of sexual violence, its not clear whether this is a result of better monitoring and reporting or because of an actual surge in incidents. Credible evidence is needed to understand the depth of the crisis and will help to prevent, respond to and protect the child victims.

UNICEF says creating a protective environment for vulnerable children requires the active engagement of authorities, government institutions, social service providers, NGO’s, community and family. They could work together to help in the prevention and response to violence against children.

The UNICEF sponsored campaign on a ‘Violence Free Society for Children’ seeks to break the culture of silence and prevent child abuse. Several activities will be conducted across the most vulnerable and high risk districts in the country to build awareness on violence against children and child abuse in communities, schools, homes and among politicians and to develop the capacity of the child protection system to better identify and effectively respond to victims of violence and abuse.

The ‘Violence Free Society for Children’ campaign will help build capacity of the protection system through training of government staff, who work with families and children, to identify and follow-up cases of violence, equip children with the skills needed to protect themselves, raise public awareness and advocacy among parliamentarians to increase the state resource allocation for child protection, policy, legal reforms and awareness raising work, UNICEF says.
If you really love children and if you see signs of sexual or physical abuse of children, the illegal employment of children and other offences, please break the culture of silence. Decide to do it today on Universal Children’s Day. You could phone 1929.

On a broader long term scale the National Unity Government in its economic policy strategy outlined on November 5 and the 2016 budget presented today will give priority to education, unpolluted food and nutrition for children. The 2016 budgetary allocation for education is to be increased fourfold and we hope the proper implementation of this vision and mission will lay the foundation for a knowledge-based economy whereby well educated, healthy children could walk and work with the fullness of human dignity.

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 - 0

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.

Invest for tomorrow, invest in children - EDITORIAL

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

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’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

Ranil Wickremesinghe caravan moves on despite barking dogs

New Visa procedure implemented

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

MIRROR CRICKET

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?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

TODAY'S HEADLINES

United States and SL Navy collaborate in CARAT 2024 exercise in Trincomalee

Upcountry estate workers stage a token strike

People have already selected Ranil for Presidency: Prasanna

Construction work for India-funded 10,000 housing units commenced

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