World Vision Lanka launched its campaign –“It takes a Nation to End Physical and Sexual Violence Against Children’ on its 40th Anniversary on October 30.
The program was held at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa theatre amidst a large crowd with past and present staff, government representatives, partners and well wishes. All those who attended the program took a pledgeto help to end violence against children. A special commemorative cover with stamp was issued to mark the event.
Making the Keynote address, State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne said’ just as a country needs its Executive, its legislature and its judiciary to be in equilibrium; so does a society need civil society organizations and NGOs to serve its communities.’’
World Vision has been actively involved in child well-being centered community development with interventions in Health & Nutrition, Water & Sanitation, Education and Economic Development since 1977. With projects in 22 out of the 25 districts, World Vision has also been instrumental in providing humanitarian assistance in emergencies such as the tsunami, floods and drought as well as in the post conflict contexts.
The organization’s focus to join the global campaign to end violence against children comes at a time where there is a rise in reported cases of child abuse in Sri Lanka. The campaign was launched in the presence of Minister of Women and Child Affairs Chandrani Bandara and Dr Rinchin Chophel – Director General of SAIEVAC – the SAARC apex body, South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children.
The aim of the campaign is to address violence against children, by raising public awareness on the subject and drawing attention to community vigilance and responsibility, as abuse in most cases are done by those known to the child. World Vision Lanka will also continue to be a strategic partner in the National Partnership to End Violence Against Children (NPEVAC ).
The National Director World Vision Sri Lanka Dr. Dhanan Senathirajah speaking at this event said ‘’ Although the exact numbers of child abuse is actually not known, we know that it is a growing problem.In any given year the number of complaints the NCPA receives surpasses 10,000.The police reports are another pointer towards the scale of the situation. But I reiterate here, what goes unreported is our greatest concern. I call upon our partners, the faith community, corporates and donor community to join us in this endevour’’
World Vision Lanka (WVL) has been working in the sphere of child protection for several decades. The organization works in over 30 locations in Sri Lanka and has access to nearly 2,000 communities and more than 500 children’s societies. WVL has been strengthening protection of children in local communities through engaging with children, familiesand local authorities in poor rural as well as in difficult urban areas. These interventions includes prevention of child right violations and as well as supporting victims of child abuse. Meanwhile the special focus on street children has enabled many children to leave a life of danger and live a normal childhood. In 2017, WVL in its programs has directly impacted more than 200,000 children and their families.
World Vision Sri Lanka is a Christian, relief, development and advocacy organisation working with all people regardless of their religion, caste, gender or ethnicity. World Vision has been serving the people of Sri Lanka since 1977 in development and relief programmes spread across the Island. The Area Development Programmes (ADPs) with their life span of 12 to 15 years, remain the flagship programme in World Vision’s work in Sri Lanka. Apart from the sectoral programmes, World Vision Lanka has also been supported with grants for over fifteen special initiatives covering a range of interventions.