Issues of child trafficking In eastern Sri Lanka: A cause study of Batticaloa district

Abstract

Child trafficking affects virtually every country in the world. Children are trafficked within the country and beyond the international territory of a country. Child trafficking is an organized crime and involves in the worst forms of human rights violation including emotional, physical and sexual abuses with bleak possibilities of rescue or reintegration. It has a negative impact on the rights of children and their development. While children are entitled to all the rights that others exercise, they need special protection too because of their vulnerable age and physique, mental immaturity and inability to look after themselves. However, it is a fundamental obligation of all States to uphold, protect, and promote the rights of children and to recognize their dignity. Accordingly, the government of Sri Lanka has taken legislative, administrative and institutional measures to protect children in accordance with her moral and legal obligations under international and domestic laws. Furthermore, State's institutional mechanism has been established by the statutes with a mandate to monitor the implementation of the rights of children at the community level. Conversely, phenomenon of trafficking in children emerges as a matter of serious concern during the post-tsunami situation in Eastern Sri Lanka. It is realized by the researcher that certain factors increase the vulnerability of children and their parents which make them a particular target for traffickers and the State's institutions existing in the province have not been able to reduce the number of incidents of child trafficking in the province. … Child trafficking affects virtually every country in the world. Children are trafficked within the country and beyond the international territory of a country. Child trafficking is an organized crime and involves in the worst forms of human rights violation including emotional, physical and sexual abuses with bleak possibilities of rescue or reintegration. It has a negative impact on the rights of children and their development. While children are entitled to all the rights that others exercise, they need special protection too because of their vulnerable age and physique, mental immaturity and inability to look after themselves. However, it is a fundamental obligation of all States to uphold, protect, and promote the rights of children and to recognize their dignity. Accordingly, the government of Sri Lanka has taken legislative, administrative and institutional measures to protect children in accordance with her moral and legal obligations under international and domestic laws. Furthermore, State's institutional mechanism has been established by the statutes with a mandate to monitor the implementation of the rights of children at the community level. Conversely, phenomenon of trafficking in children emerges as a matter of serious concern during the post-tsunami situation in Eastern Sri Lanka. It is realized by the researcher that certain factors increase the vulnerability of children and their parents which make them a particular target for traffickers and the State's institutions existing in the province have not been able to reduce the number of incidents of child trafficking in the province. …