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Sri Lanka
Children affected by conflict
A 13-year old girl,
participating in a group
discussion like the one
pictured, shared that she
had been to an LTTE
staging area after a
recruitment drive in local
villages. She said that
there were 25 other
children of her age who
had been transported
there by truck
in preparation for a move
to the training camp. She
left because she missed
her family and was worried when she would see them again
if she went to the training camp.
One young woman who is the top student from the area
has wanted to pursue further education outside of her village
area; she has the support of her family to do so. However
the LTTE, not wanting people to leave their villages,
instructed the school principals not to issue leaving
certificates which are required for children to go on to
higher study. With renewed peace talks, the effects of
conflict in
reducing
access to
education
may now
change
for other
children.
Photos:
Laurence
Gray
• alcoholism and domestic violence affecting
children in project areas
• armed conflict affecting children nationally
• sexual exploitation of children, especially by
paedophiles, nationally and in tourist areas
• displaced and mobile populations due to
conflict, in border 2 areas and nationally
• young women and men seeking work as
domestic staff in other countries being
tricked into situations of abuse or
exploitation
• government policy and practice such as
institutional care and capacity to respondadequately
to violence against children
• capacity of government institutions to
ensure protection of children
• access to quality education in areas of tension.
Areas of priority for World Vision are in the
North and North-East of Sri Lanka, which
are now becoming open to relief initiatives.
Children in these locations have been
particularly affected by conflict and isolated
from assistance. Key issues have been access
to education, capacity building of local
counsellors, and children being lured from
IDP camps to the LTTE training camps.
An integrated approach
World Vision’s Child Protection
Policy
World Vision Sri Lanka has taken
steps to integrate child protection with
development project design and
implementation. A policy on child protection
standards and provision has been developed
through a dedicated staff position. Screening
mechanisms including police and reference
checks are used for new staff; this extends to
volunteers working with projects.
The policy is highlighted as part of
orientation and at other staff training events,
and team leaders have the responsibility of
briefing project staff on the policy.
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