Human Rights Commission alarmed by rise in child rights violations

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has issued a statement urging immediate action to address the growing number of child rights violations, with particular concern over the continued use of corporal punishment across schools, homes, and care institutions.

In a statement released on Wednesday (15), HRCSL Chairman Justice L. T. B. Dehideniya noted that such disciplinary practices not only inflict physical injury, but also result in lasting emotional harm, with reported cases of trauma and even child suicide.

The HRCSL described the trend as deeply troubling and incompatible with Sri Lanka’s legal and moral obligations to protect its youngest citizens.

As a response, the Commission pointed to the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, gazetted on 4 July 2025, which seeks to prohibit all forms of cruel, degrading, and harmful punishment—both physical and non-physical—against individuals under 18 years of age.

The HRCSL stressed that the proposed amendment to Chapter 19 of the Penal Code is critical to closing legal gaps and ensuring children are protected from abuse in all settings.

Sri Lanka’s existing legal framework—including the Children and Young Persons Ordinance, the Penal Code, and Article 11 of the Constitution, which prohibits torture and cruel or degrading treatment—already affirms these protections, the HRCSL stated.

However, the persistence of corporal punishment underscores the need for stronger enforcement and public awareness.

“Discipline must be rooted in respect, not fear,” the Commission said, advocating for non-violent, child-friendly disciplinary methods that promote dignity and positive development.

The statement warned against misrepresenting legal reforms as attacks on parental or teacher authority, calling such narratives harmful and misleading.

Emphasizing the best interest of the child as the guiding principle, the HRCSL called on families, educators, policymakers, and society at large to unite in ending corporal punishment and building a culture of care and protection for all children in Sri Lanka.