Background: Street children NGOs estimate 2000 street-living and street working children in Colombo city (with 5000 children at risk) and 2,500 outside Colombo (with 5000 at risk). Some estimates place the at-risk figures in the region of hundreds of thousands. Accurate statistical data about numbers and dispersion of street children is limited, but there is acknowledgement that the number is substantial and on the increase.
Achievements: Rapid progress in accepting and implementing children’s rights through the introduction / amendment of legislation, installation of monitoring mechanisms, establishment of administrative structures, and exposure of child abuse by NGOs and the media. Inclusion of street children as a category in the 1990-initiated National Plan of Action for children. Launch of the Street Children Network (SCN) in December 1996 which produced a directory of street children NGOs in 1998. Establishment of: National Child Protection Authority (1999); Child Abuse Desks at police stations; 24-hour child abuse hotline. Amendment to crime and education-related legislation. Extensive range of NGO services, including provision of birth certificates and identity cards, poverty alleviation programmes, micro-enterprises, formal and nonformal education and recreation. However, further work is required in areas such as out of school children, child labour, children in conflict with the law and children in especially difficult circumstances.
Recommendations: Strengthen coordination amongst and between government and NGOs. Mobilise community and corporate sector support. Compile a national profile of street children incorporating statistical and other data. Establish links with agencies in the SAARC region and with international agencies. Activate the Attendance and Monitoring Committees at village and divisional secretarial level in relation to education. Organise more services, especially street-based services, in consultation with street children themselves in fields such as literacy, recreation, cultural activities, healthcare, career guidance, counselling, skills development, family support. Identify causal factors – both immediate in relation to the family, and situational – in order to target preventative action.
Achievements: Rapid progress in accepting and implementing children’s rights through the introduction / amendment of legislation, installation of monitoring mechanisms, establishment of administrative structures, and exposure of child abuse by NGOs and the media. Inclusion of street children as a category in the 1990-initiated National Plan of Action for children. Launch of the Street Children Network (SCN) in December 1996 which produced a directory of street children NGOs in 1998. Establishment of: National Child Protection Authority (1999); Child Abuse Desks at police stations; 24-hour child abuse hotline. Amendment to crime and education-related legislation. Extensive range of NGO services, including provision of birth certificates and identity cards, poverty alleviation programmes, micro-enterprises, formal and nonformal education and recreation. However, further work is required in areas such as out of school children, child labour, children in conflict with the law and children in especially difficult circumstances.
Recommendations: Strengthen coordination amongst and between government and NGOs. Mobilise community and corporate sector support. Compile a national profile of street children incorporating statistical and other data. Establish links with agencies in the SAARC region and with international agencies. Activate the Attendance and Monitoring Committees at village and divisional secretarial level in relation to education. Organise more services, especially street-based services, in consultation with street children themselves in fields such as literacy, recreation, cultural activities, healthcare, career guidance, counselling, skills development, family support. Identify causal factors – both immediate in relation to the family, and situational – in order to target preventative action.
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