Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women and Gender discussed with the provincial chief secretaries on the implementation of the national policy prepared by the National Child Protection Authority regarding child day care facilities.
This discussion took place when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women and Gender met in Parliament recently under the Chairmanship of Member of Parliament Hon. (Mrs.) Thalatha Athukorala.
According to the 13th constitutional amendment, matters related to children fall under the purview of the provincial councils, thus, the previous meeting of the Committee drew attention to the legal concerns arising in the implementation of this national policy. Accordingly, this discussion was called to seek the views of the Provincial Chief Secretaries and the Attorney General’s Department.
Officials representing the Provincial Chief Secretaries, Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, National Child Protection Authority, Department of Probation and Child Care Services, representatives of Verite Research Institute and youth representatives appointed to the Sectoral Oversight Committee participated in this discussion. Furthermore, Provincial Probation and Child Care Services Commissioners joined the meeting online.
The official representing the Attorney General’s Department pointed out that though matters related to probation and child care services are under the purview of Provincial Councils, since Provincial Councils have not been established, the Central Government can act in this regard. Furthermore, the provincial chief secretaries also pointed out that if the Cabinet approves this national policy, there will be no problem in implementing it in the provincial councils. Furthermore, the Provincial Chief Secretaries, who informed the Committee regarding the current methods related to child day care facilities, pointed out that by implementing this national policy, a common method can be implemented for the entire country.
Accordingly, the Committee Chair, Member of Parliament Hon. (Mrs.) Thalatha Athukorala instructed to submit the relevant national policy to the provincial governors and obtain their approval for the same.
Apart from the said, the Committee discussed at length regarding the prevention of violence against children and the need to strengthen the institutions working for it.
Opposition Leader Hon. Sajith Premadasa, Members of Parliament Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, and Hon. D. Weerasingha were present at the Committee meeting held.
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