Caritas Sri Lanka - SEDEC

Caritas Sri Lanka marked Universal Children’s' Day on 1st October with a group of around 100 student leaders, teachers and parents at an event held in the SEDEC auditorium in Colombo.

Ms Shirani Rajapakse, Director - Education and Special Programs in the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka in her address to the participants of this program said that there are special laws in the country to protect child rights and that mechanisms such as the National Child Protection Authority are in place to give effect to these laws. She told the students that they have a right to free Primary Education and also to good schools and good teachers. Physical and mental well-being are their rights, too. She reminded the children that if they have no time to play, it amounts to a denial of their right.

Rev Sr Nilanthi Ranasinghe, Caritas Program Officer for Child Protection in her introductory remarks observed that children teach us child-like trust and many other things, even in their helplessness. They are valuable members of society and they need love and respect in order to grow to their full potential, she said.

The students, teachers and parents took part in separate group discussions where they explored their own understandings of child protection and what they expect from each other in their inter-relationships.

The reports emerging from the group activity provided valuable insights into how children, parents and teachers see each other. All the participants appreciated the fact that this program provided a space to share their views and express their feelings in an encouraging atmosphere.

Rev Fr George Sigamoney, National Director of Caritas Sri Lanka in his synopsis requested parents and teachers to speak to their peer groups about the important aspects the students had shared at this forum. He asked that this dialogue be continued and he offered some words of advice to the students, too.

At the conclusion of the program, all the participants were given souvenirs to mark Children’s' Day.