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| Thursday, 30 September 2004 |
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| President wants more commitment for child issues by Ranil Wijayapala President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga yesterday appealed to leaders and officials of South Asian countries to work with more commitment to solve issues relating to children in the region specially child abuse, child trafficking and child labour. Addressing the inaugural session of the South Asia Regional Mid-Term Review of the "Yokohama Global Commitment 2001", at the Taj Samudra hotel in Colombo the President said the Ministers and officers should undertake Action Plans adopted at international conferences giving serious thought to it. The President said as one of the much populous regions in the world, South Asia has much to do in order to build the world more fit for the children. She said the developing nations cannot go forward unless they take children's issues seriously. The Regional Mid-Term Review of 'The Yokohama Global Commitment 2001, hosted by the Sri Lankan Government was organised by the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia in partnership with the South Asia Coordinating Group Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking of Children and Women. Representatives from eight South Asian countries including Afghanistan are participating in this three day conference. Addressing the inauguration of the conference, President Kumaratunga said education was the best way to solve the issues relating to children. "We in Sri Lanka have already embarked on education reforms", the President added. "We are targeting the modernisation of education to make a complete man or a woman who can face the challenges of globalisation," the President added. She said the deep rooted violence is due to the two decades long ethnic conflict. Children have been affected immensely during the last two decades. "We are preparing the children of this country to face global challenges effectively in a peaceful manner, through discussion and negotiation rather than resorting to bombs and bullets."President Kumaratunga said Sri Lanka Government has adopted a National Plan of Action from 2004 to 2008 and just began to implement it in accordance with the internationally accepted methods. President Kumaratunga said the Government has started to appoint school level committees to look into matters related to child abuse. Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare Minister Sumedha G. Jayasena, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia Dr. Sadig Rasheed and UNICEF Country Director Ted Chaiban also spoke. Delegates from Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and representatives form United Nations agencies participated at this inaugural ceremony. |
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