2nd Lead (Adds photos)

Child abuse awareness campaign launched in Trinco

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 December 2004, 16:20 GMT]
UNICEF supported Trincomalee District Child Protection Committee (DCPC) Wednesday launched the Awareness Campaign Against Child Abuse in Trincomalee District. The event was held at the Trincomalee Divisional Secretariat. The implementing agency of the campaign is the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization, UNICEF sources said.

Ms Elroy

Ms Gabriella Elroy, UNICEF Trincomalee district head said; '' Children have the right not to be abused and adults have the responsibility not to abuse children. As such the campaign is a call for every one to join hands with the Trincomalee DCPC to stop child abuse on all levels in the society.''

Mr.David Lamin, Child Protection Officer of the UNICEF in Trincomalee said:'' Children are our future. The prosperous future of Sri Lanka lies in the hands of today's children. Hence all should take immediate steps to eliminate child abuse from the society.''

Ms Jalatheepan , Trincomalee Assistant Divisional Secretary speaking

Mr.V.Kalaiwarnan, TRO Trincomalee district project officer conducted the inaugural proceeding. Mr.N.Singarayaer, Trincomalee Additional Government Agent, Ms S.Jalatheepan, Trincomalee Assistant Divisional Secretary, and Mr.Priyantha Weerasuriya, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Trincomalee also spoke.

The campaign will be carried out between December 8th and 15th of December. During this week awareness material will be distributed, jingles will be played, awareness video clips will be shown and street dramas will be conducted to sensitise and engage the people in Trincomalee district about the detriments of child abuse and encourage all communities to put a stop to the abuse of children, UNICEF sources said.

UNICEF's David Lamin

The DCPC is a co-ordinating body that works for the protection of children in Trincomalee district. The DCPC comes under the leadership of the Government Agent and works closely with the Department of Social Welfare, the department of Health Services, TRO, ESCO, AHAM, FCE/ TYDUP, the Women and Children's Desk of the Sri Lankan Police, the Department of education, the department of Labour, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and many more organizations and committed individuals, UNICEF sources said.




TRO Trincomalee district project officer Mr.Kalaiwarnan speaking




a section of TRO volunteers assigned for the awareness campaign