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

dangers of sexual abuse and the penalties for adults who commit it. 454 The NGO Human and
Environment Links Progressive Organisation also mobilizes the media to raise issues of child
rights, including sexual abuse, with the public and government.
8.4.5 Prevention through outreach to vulnerable boys
Sri Lanka does not have great capacity to provide outreach to vulnerable or exploited boys,
particularly those being sexually exploited in prostitution. The country does not have as many
children living on the street or boys in exploitive labour as do other countries of South Asia,
although girls in exploitive labour, particularly domestic service, are a concern.
Consequently, Sri Lanka has not developed street-based outreach interventions to the extent
of, for example, Bangladesh. As well, sexual exploitation of boys in prostitution is primarily
linked with the tourism industry, and the boys involved in it do not identify themselves as
‘victims’ needing protection or support. Consequently, direct outreach activities for these
boys are scarce.
A number of NGOs, including PEACE and LEADS, conduct awareness and education
programmes in vulnerable communities, such as fishing villages, for both parents and
children. Several organizations have established drop-in centres in Colombo, including
LEADS, which operates a drop-in facility for sexually exploited boys and girls and provides
counselling and training. The NCPA established a drop-in centre for children living on the
street in Colombo in 2004. The Sanhinda Street Children Rehabilitation Institute in Colombo
provides counselling, education, recreation and handicraft training. The Sarvodaya Street
Children’s Programme, also in Colombo, provides counselling and education and operates a
night shelter and a crisis intervention centre.
8.4.6 Addressing exploitation in pornography
In Sri Lanka, pornographic criminal acts are identified by both NGOs such as PEACE and by
the police and government. Save the Children Norway supports the NCPA to carry out a
Cyber Watch Project, and the NCPA has recently established a Cyber Watch Unit that
monitors websites patronized by foreign child abusers. Through investigation of websites
offering child pornography using Sri Lankan children, the NCPA has apprehended both local
and foreign producers of pornography. The activity also monitors suspicious Internet chat
rooms in the country.
8.4.7 Addressing exploitation in travel and tourism
Multiple players address the sexual exploitation of children in the tourism industry, including
NGOs, the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and government protection agencies, including the
NCPA, Probation and Child Care Services Department, and women and children police
desks. However, NGOs conduct the majority of actions in this area of exploitation.
454 UNICEF, 2008, ‘Real lives: Addressing sexual abuse in Sri Lanka’
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