Moves to eradicate child prostitution in coastal belt

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

COLOMBO: The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) will educate children and their parents on eradicating child prostitution in the coastal belt, Government Information Department sources said.

The sources said the NCPA will raise awareness among children and parents through documentaries, lectures and posters.

They will be educated on the negative impacts of child prostitution. Steps will be taken to educate the whole community in the coastal belt.

Educating children involved in child prostitution and their parents is not successful because they are not willing to take part in awareness raising programmes and hardly participate in them, sources said.

The NCPA has also made arrangements to appoint Child Coordinating Officers at regional level.

These officers will prevent child abuse, child prostitution and child labour while ensuring the well-being and safety of children at regional level. They will also monitor vulnerable children.

The second phase of appointing Child Coordinating Officers will commence from the Moneragala district on July 29.

It is expected to appoint these officers covering 4,000 villages in the Moneragala district.