It was in 1989 that the world community
accepted that children had inherent rights of their
own. This was consequent to the campaign launched by
Madam Engeltine of England in 1923 with regard to the
rights of the child, which resulted in the acceptance
of the International Agreement on the Rights of Children
by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Although
we can be pleased that Sri Lanka was among the first
20 countries to sign that agreement, it is my belief
that we can realize full satisfaction about this only
when the agreement fully implemented in all parts of
our country.
All the work carried out by my Government for and on
behalf of children will be based within the framework
of the International Agreement on Children. Accordingly,
we consider the provision of adequate pre-natal nourishment
to every Sri Lankan child to be born; ensuring a healthy
life to every child that is born; the establishment
of a suitable environment that will be conducive to
the development of these children; and ensuring their
safety and protection, as the responsibility of the
government and State.
Similarly, it is my expectation that all work undertaken
by us for the welfare of children should be available
to all children with no differentiation whatever, throughout
our country, from the extremes of Point Pedro to Dondra
Head and Colombo to Batticaloa, encompassing the entire
land. I wish to tell you with great honesty that one
dream that drives me is that of seeing all children,
be they Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher and all other
peoples of our land, live as brothers and sisters of
a singe mother in the New Sri Lanka that we shall build.
It is due to the necessity to make this dream a reality
during my lifespan that I identified the need for a
ministry to specially serve the needs of children and
have ensured that it functions for that purpose. It
is necessary for all of us to prove by action that the
Declaration made today on the occasion of the National
Day of the Child, is not limited words but a reality
in action. How do we do this? Firstly, we should respect
the right of children to make their views known about
decisions that we take on behalf of children. That is
why I advised those who organized this event that such
consultation should be fundamental to their work.
We who are older in age do not pay much attention to
seek the views of children on matters that affect and
impact on them. If the National Year of the Child is
to bear the expected results of a positive nature, we
should all honestly accept this truth. It is because
children know more than us adults about the world of
the child that we should understand and appreciate their
ability and right to produce more creative, practical
and lasting solutions to the issues that affect them.
Similarly, as a government and a nation we should have
a total commitment to the principle of children's participation
that runs as a glowing silver streak throughout the
agreement on children's rights.
Honouring this concept of consultation, I expect very
soon to meet with children and obtain their views about
the functioning of the institutions, programmes and
activities that are carried for their welfare. I would
like to recommend to this ministry that it takes steps
to establish a Children's Parliament, Children's Municipal
Councils and Pradesheeya Sabhas through which the voice
of the children will be heard loud and clearing the
country. No doubt most of you will believe as I do that
such assemblies will possibly be of greater benefit
to today's elected representatives of the people than
to the children.
It is our expectation to make the child a participant
in governance. What we expect by declaring this as the
National Year of the Child is to have a more sympathetic
attitude towards their problems, and direct all Sri
Lankans to do of their utmost to improve the quality
of life of our children. It is my belief that in carrying
out this task we will be able to work out a productive
programme of activities by the coming together with
total commitment of the Government, International Organizations
and the Sri Lankan community. It is my honest belief
that we could approach success in our aims in programmes
that combine our collective strengths and efforts, rather
than those that are done separately.
I also believe that in our march towards building a
New Sri Lanka, the National Year of the Child will help
us look at the problems of children with a new approach
and new attitudes. It is both my determination and very
strong belief that we within this year we shall be able
to build a path to bring about solutions to a wide range
of problems that engulf our children today. These extend
from the child soldiers of the North, the street children
of the South, the issue of children in domestic service,
as well as, the problems of the children displaced and
otherwise affected by the ravages of war and the tsunami.
It is my positive and hopeful expectation that in this
effort my Government and I will receive the unstinted
support of all sections of our society with genuine
concern for the cause of the child.
It is especially important that during this year we
pay very special attention towards children who have
our least attention such as the underprivileged child,
and the differently-abled child, still referred to in
general as deformed children.
It is also necessary for me to emphasize the need for
special creative work directed towards children in areas
such as cinema, theatre, songs and music. I call upon
all the creative people in our country to produce more
and more of such work in their chosen fields of talent
and activity. Today, the use of children for advertising
has become a major issue. The time set apart for children
on TV and radio is in no way adequate. Changes in this
should begin this year.
In conclusion, on this unique occasion when the government
accepts its fundamental responsibility towards the child
and takes new steps towards fulfilling that responsibility,
I call upon all of you to make a commitment from the
very depths of your hearts to build a very special world
that is most suited for the child.
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