SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF BOYS IN SOUTH ASIA A ...

addition, except for local coordination of stakeholders, this Plan of Action does not include
the NCPA in its membership or among its implementing partners.
Implementation of the Plan of Action has met with limited success. Research and awarenessraising
has been conducted and registration has been strengthened for guest houses and hotels
for foreign tourists. However, as with plans of action throughout the region, there has been
insufficient involvement of government child protection agencies and limited collaboration
between NGOs and the government. NGOs remain the primary actors in addressing tourism
aimed at child sexual exploitation. Notably, little has been done to address domestic sex
tourism or exploitation of children by local residents, and the exploitation of boys and girls is
still perceived as being perpetrated by foreign visitors.
8.4 Programme Responses
8.4.1 Children’s participation
Consultations with children were conducted during development of the National Plan of
Action for Children in Sri Lanka. Children raised the issues of sexual abuse, corporal
punishment and early marriage and demanded more participation in policy and programme
decision-making regarding children’s issues. A children’s parliament, the Sri Lankan
Children’s Challenge, took place in 2002. Children from all social strata expressed their
concerns about violence and abuse at home and school.
Although there have not been numerous activities to promote children’s direct input into
policy-making, children’s views have been extensively collected by researchers over the
years, and this input has informed the development of both programmes and policy. UNICEF
has recently supported the Sri Lanka Tourist Board to conduct knowledge, attitude and
practice studies related to tourism for child sexual exploitation. In one study, 2,500 school
children were interviewed for their knowledge and views on sexual exploitation in travel and
tourism. 450 Save the Children, UNICEF and Plan International have supported many activities
with local partners to enhance the participation of children and the expression of their views
on abuse, corporal punishment and concerns in the home and school.
8.4.2 Monitoring and data collection
The NCPA monitors abuse cases, carries out investigations and advises the government on
child-related issues. ILO has supported the NCPA to establish an anti-trafficking unit, which
carries out surveillance to detect incidents of child abuse. The NCPA is expected to
coordinate monitoring and data collection of government agencies and NGOs on child sexual
abuse and exploitation. Health officials are legally required to report suspected incidents of
child abuse and neglect. 451
450 Sri Lanka Tourist Board and MG Consultants, 2007, ‘Knowledge, attitudes and practices of school children
and their parents in relation to child sex tourism: Final report’.
451 World Health Organization (Krug, E.G. et al.), 2002, ‘World report on violence and health’,
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