In Sri Lanka today institutional care is the fate of many children who have been abandoned by their parents. According to UNICEF, out of over 21,000 children in orphanages in Sri Lanka, one or both parents of over 19,000 of them are still alive.
UNICEF says in most cases it is a family member who leaves the child at an orphanage. "In Sri Lanka institutional care has become the sole option for many children because their family unit is destroyed, by such things as parental loss, separation or parental conflict. Another reason may be the war and displacement factors," UNICEF said in a 24 July report entitled, "Out of Sight - Out of Mind." Poverty is also a root cause with the family feeling they cannot afford to adequately provide for the child, according to the UN agency.
Poor conditions in orphanagesThe UNICEF report, published in collaboration with the government's Ministry of Child Development and Women's Empowerment, aims to improve living conditions in orphanages and ensure the children are cared for adequately.
There are currently 488 voluntary children's homes in Sri Lanka. Most are found in Batticaloa District which has 66, followed by Colombo with 60.
Living conditions for children in some of these homes is less than idyllic. According to the UNICEF report, only 12 children's homes are found to be fully compliant with current standards of care. Most homes are overcrowded and lack sufficient staff to provide the individual attention children need.
According to the UNICEF report, 136 orphanages said they did not have a sufficient number of beds: many of the children ended up sleeping on mats on the floor. In addition, UNICEF found that 142 homes were unable to provide separate storage space for children's personal belongings.
Theft from orphansDuring festivals children receive gifts and cash donations from well-wishers and foreigners who visit the area. However, according to the bureau, last year alone it received over 150 complaints against staff members for theft, during these festivals, of belongings and cash from children living in orphanages. Most of the complaints were lodged by relatives of the children.
The UNICEF report suggests a large number of cases of child institutionalisation could be avoided if better programmes were implemented to support families. "A clearer focus on family in child care policies could strengthen awareness about the rights to protection and care to which every child is entitled," UNICEF said. Currently Sri Lanka has no such policies in place.
UNICEF says in most cases it is a family member who leaves the child at an orphanage. "In Sri Lanka institutional care has become the sole option for many children because their family unit is destroyed, by such things as parental loss, separation or parental conflict. Another reason may be the war and displacement factors," UNICEF said in a 24 July report entitled, "Out of Sight - Out of Mind." Poverty is also a root cause with the family feeling they cannot afford to adequately provide for the child, according to the UN agency.
Poor conditions in orphanagesThe UNICEF report, published in collaboration with the government's Ministry of Child Development and Women's Empowerment, aims to improve living conditions in orphanages and ensure the children are cared for adequately.
There are currently 488 voluntary children's homes in Sri Lanka. Most are found in Batticaloa District which has 66, followed by Colombo with 60.
Living conditions for children in some of these homes is less than idyllic. According to the UNICEF report, only 12 children's homes are found to be fully compliant with current standards of care. Most homes are overcrowded and lack sufficient staff to provide the individual attention children need.
According to the UNICEF report, 136 orphanages said they did not have a sufficient number of beds: many of the children ended up sleeping on mats on the floor. In addition, UNICEF found that 142 homes were unable to provide separate storage space for children's personal belongings.
Theft from orphansDuring festivals children receive gifts and cash donations from well-wishers and foreigners who visit the area. However, according to the bureau, last year alone it received over 150 complaints against staff members for theft, during these festivals, of belongings and cash from children living in orphanages. Most of the complaints were lodged by relatives of the children.
The UNICEF report suggests a large number of cases of child institutionalisation could be avoided if better programmes were implemented to support families. "A clearer focus on family in child care policies could strengthen awareness about the rights to protection and care to which every child is entitled," UNICEF said. Currently Sri Lanka has no such policies in place.
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