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Stop Child Cruelty Trust (SCC), together with Child Protection Alliance (CPA), will recommence the Lama Surakum Yathra in celebration of Children's Day to spread love to the people and children of the Northern Province. The intensive public awareness campaign begins in Colombo Fort and will reach Jaffna on 1 October, Kandy on 15 October, Batticaloa on 29 October, and Anuradhapura on 12 November.
The grand finale of Yathra is scheduled for 18 November 2022, with a walk in support of #NOguti and Sri Lanka's first Children's Convention at the Open Air Theatre at Vihara Maha Devi Park, Colombo, to celebrate Universal Children's Day.
Speaking about the initiative, founder chairperson Dr. Tush Wickramanayaka said that although many protested on the streets demanding a better country for children, they were silent about raising better, unwounded children for the country. She described Yathra as a journey of love to protect and promote children's rights, with activities in each key city focused on empowering children as rights holders and equal citizens, distributing essential educational material and sanitary pads for children with economic hardships, and feeding the hungry via a community kitchen.
The #NOhit zone school program launched in February 2022 was interrupted by the Aragalaya. Dr. Wickramanayaka said the violence and oppression seen in society is a reminder that ending corporal punishment is urgent. The plan is to introduce a beacon school in every province visited by Yathra to promote happier and safer education. Prof. Prathiba Mahanamahewa said a 2017 NCPA study found that 80 percent of students reported corporal punishment in the previous term and that cruelty complaints have tripled over the past decade. He added that the Supreme Court's historic February 2021 verdict banning corporal punishment must be implemented urgently.
Saranga Disasekara said schools should be safe spaces where children and educators can adopt pro-social behaviour that prevents violence in school and in the community. He welcomed the #NOguti campaign as a way to change harmful behaviour. Retired Senior DIG Priyantha Jayakody said police and media must respect the privacy and rights of victims and suspects, and that long-term programs are needed to educate both sectors on ethics and child safeguarding.
Niranjani Shanmugarajah said that a child without love and support will never grow up with the attitude of caring for others, and called for love and nurture to change the child's world.
The efforts of SCC in ending violence against children have paved the path for the upcoming UNHRC sessions, where the trust will represent 5.2 million children in Geneva as the only civil society organization committed to child rights. Child protection is a collective social responsibility, and SCC will continue awareness, training, and advocacy.
Those interested in joining the cause can visit stopchildcrueltytrust.org, the Facebook page at facebook.com/stopchildcruelty, or email info@stopchildcrueltytrust.org.
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