2004 Annual Report, NPDS Project.pdf - IDP SriLanka

4.5. “PULSE OF THE DIPLACED” – CHILDREN’S DAY PROGRMAMEIntroductionAs a consequence of the ethnic conflict, it is specially the children in the North andEast who are seriously affected. At least at one point of their life they have facedarbitrary arrest, child abuse, torture, lack of basic needs, or malnutrition. It wasestimated that 900,000 children in the North and East were affected by war (UNICEF, Aspecial Program for assistance for children and women affected by war in Sri Lanka,2000-2001, Colombo Sri Lanka) and nearly 25% of them have lost one or both of theirparents. (Times of India, Sep.7, 2002) They have not only have seen and heard aboutthe violations and abuses but some times they have undergone them. So thepsychological trauma the children had gone through is immense. But all the yearsthey have been a forgotten sector in the society.Focusing on the World Children’s Day the Project organized an art exhibition, whichgave the war affected children to illustrate their aspirations, hopes and dreams as wellas their anticipations and frustrations.ObjectivesThe Exhibition was organized to appreciate the talents and the skills of the childrenand also to give an opportunity to display their skills. Through the programme theProject tried to understand the root causes that effect these children.This too was used to create awareness among the policy makers and the generalsociety about the situation of the displaced children and to direct their awareness inimplementing policies for the betterment of the children.ActivitiesA month long activities were staged in three phases. The regional staff and the HRAsconducted the activities. In the first phase any child who falls under the category of10- 13 years and 14 – 18 years were allowed to participate and the Project providedthe children with the necessary materials.Age GroupRegion 10 – 13 years 14 – 18 yearsAnuradhapura 166 60Batticaloa 266 129Jaffna 241 145Mannar 176 57Puttlam 913 302Trincomalee 117 31Vauniya 389 166TOTAL 2, 268 890Annual Report 2004National Protection and Durable Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons ProjectHuman Rights Commission of Sri Lanka30