Implementing UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in a Participatory Manner (LK0038)

Promote the creation of a child friendly environment by implementing the 2018 Concluding Observations of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in a participatory manner
1st March 2019 – 31st August 2021
Lead implementing agency/actor Ministry in charge of Child Affairs
Commitment description
What is the public problem that the commitment will address? Sri Lanka is bound by international obligations to safeguard the rights of Sri Lankan children having ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1991. In this regard, the Committee on the Rights of the Child monitors the progress made on these obligations by reviewing the information submitted by each State Party and makes recommendations or “Concluding Observations” to help States improve the situation of children.

The latest Concluding Observations on Sri Lanka made in 2018 have identified the main factors leading to violations of child rights and make recommendations on how they could be prevented. Sri Lanka is required to submit its next periodic report by 2023 and to include therein information on the follow-up to the present Concluding Observations. Recommendations have been made to address a number of issues including low level of societal awareness on child rights; gender-based violence; children deprived of a family environment; effects of climate change on child rights; internally displaced children; trafficking in children etc. It is important to note, however, that the skills and knowledge of parties with responsibility to implement these recommendations are at a low level.
What is the commitment? By implementing the relevant recommendations of the UNCRC Concluding Observations, the Ministry in charge of child affairs, together with other agencies, aims to strengthen its efforts to build a country in which the rights of children are protected. In this regard, the Ministry recognizes the need to create a knowledgeable society that is aware of child rights and the importance of safeguarding them; consider legislative changes in the light of cultural changes; and enable social recognition for activists appearing for child rights.
How will the commitment contribute to solve the public problem? This commitment will increase the awareness on the importance of safeguarding child rights. It will promote behaviour and practices to hear the opinion of children when taking decisions concerning them; empower the society to report on incidences of child exploitation; and effectively address factors that contribute to violence against children.
Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values? This commitment enhances public participation, transparency and accountability through social mobilization to identify instances of child rights violations and initiatives to protect child rights.
Additional information The responsibilities to protect the rights of children facilitated through this commitment will help promote societal values.
Milestone Activity with a verifiable deliverable Start Date: End Date:
1. New laws and policies (eg: Alternative care policy) will be introduced and implemented. March 2019 March 2020
2. Child Rights Protection Committees at rural, divisional, district, provincial and national levels will be strengthened. March 2019 March 2020
3. Societal awareness on the importance of child rights protection will be enhanced. March 2019 September 2020
4. Take action based on the study made on the reintegration of institutionalized children into society. March 2019 March 2021

15. Concluding Observations of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Verifiable: No

Relevant to Open Government: No

Potential Impact: Minor

Completion: Not Started

This commitment aimed to implement Concluding Observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which Sri Lanka ratified in 1991, ^[61] but lacked relevance to OGP values or fully-verifiable milestones. There is no publicly-available evidence that the commitment strengthened Child Rights Protection Committees or resulted in a response to a study on the re-integration of institutionalized children. Regarding new policies, the National Child Protection Authority began to formulate a new policy on child protection. The drafting process included consultations on measures to prevent child abuse, violence against children, and corporal punishment. These consultations included the National Child Protection Authority, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, UNICEF, Sarvodaya, and other civil society organizations. However, progress was quite slow due to lack of political commitment to reforming child rights. Other obstacles included political volatility and difficulties with online meetings caused by COVID-19. Overall, according to Sarvodaya, child rights deteriorated over the course of implementation due to the pandemic, with school closures and increased incidence of child abuse, violence against children, and institutionalization. Moving forward, this policy area would benefit from strengthened citizen action and advocacy lobbying for government prioritization of child rights. ^[62]