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# Our Children

## 'Our Children' Book Is a Chronicle of Resilience Against Child Abuse

Approximately 5.1 million (25%) of Sri Lanka's population is under 18 years old. The Child Protection Alliance (CPA) campaigns for urgent action to address the alarming escalation of child abuse in the country. Shockingly, from 2020 to 2022, seventeen children fell victim to physical or sexual abuse and murder. Statistics from the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) reveal a concerning increase in reported cases of child abuse over the past decade, with cases of physical abuse tripling during this period. The Sri Lanka Police report that a child is sexually molested every two hours on the island.

'Our Children' is a poignant collection of real-life stories narrated by survivors of child abuse, providing them with a platform to voice their traumatic experiences. Many share their stories for the first time, marking a significant step in their healing journey. The narratives cover various forms of abuse - physical, sexual, and mental - and include one tragic account of suicide, recounted by a grieving mother.

Each story carries a unique message to the public, supported by evidence-based insights from experts in legal, child psychology, education, and law enforcement fields. Co-authored by the winner of the inter-school debate competition 'A Generation's Appeal' to end child abuse and reputable authors, the book will be published in Sinhala and translated into Tamil and English, approved by the Ministry of Education for distribution in schools, and recommended for children aged 12 and above.

The book is in the final stages of editing and we hope to publish it in 2026 in Sinhala translated to Tamil and English languages with an island-wide book reading tour. If you wish to contribute towards the printing and distribution of the book Donate here.

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“Sack the system and trust the child” declared a participant attracting thunderous applause at a children’s forum conducted to stimulate a conversation on the impact and prevention of child abuse. Each speaker was asked what they would do if they were the President or Prime Minister of the country to protect children endorsing Article 12, respect for the view of children and Article 13, freedom of expression of CRC.

The book is currently written in Sinhala. The stories range through various forms of abuse affecting boys and girls of all ethnicities, in religious institutions and care home settings cascading through a child’s psycho social development. The cost of trauma is explained by experts in law, education, etc.

These are the winning entries of ‘Me Unhurt – Stop Child Abuse’ art competition conducted to offer an opportunity for our young citizens to express their thoughts and feelings into creative masterpieces that will adorn the cover and inside pages of the book.

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