The SL needs to seize the opportunities offered by CHOGM 2013

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) comes to Sri Lanka in November 2013 for the first time. The event is also historic for another reason: It is the second largest summit of world leaders to gather in Sri Lanka since the country gained independence, behind only the Non-Aligned Summit in 1976.

Yet even with preparations for this milestone underway, the challenges that Sri Lanka faces in the international arena continues. It is beyond dispute that Sri Lanka’s three-decade conflict was externalized through the combination of factors that ranged from the presence of an active diaspora, the involvement of foreign facilitators in the peace process, and the presence of foreign peacekeeping forces in 1987. By the end of the war, Sri Lanka was very much on the international radar. This international attention has spilled over into the country’s postwar phase as well, but now has taken on new meaning.

Most of the country's postwar bilateral and multilateral engagements are haunted by the specter of reconciliation and human rights concerns. Yet human rights and inter-communal harmony are not alien to Sri Lanka, the values of which are enshrined in its shared history, its cultures and its legal frameworks. But the country will need to capitalize and draw on these strengths to forge a robust system of governance that can function with independence and credibility. It must have the structures and norms in place to respond domestically to every allegation made. Acting on the outcomes of the two national processes – the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and the National Human Rights Action Plan – would demonstrate that homegrown mechanisms can credibly provide solutions, while improving foreign relations and prospects.

It ought to be remembered that for all the flak Sri Lanka has attracted, CHOGM 2013 presents enormous opportunities, directly flowing from hosting the summit itself and deriving from the international credibility the event can restore to Sri Lanka more generally. The government must take seriously the opportunities that CHOGM brings to the country and its peoples, who have suffered brutally from the three-decade conflict that concluded in May 2009.

As is customary, Sri Lanka will take up the mantle of leadership of the Commonwealth for the two years following CHOGM 2013, until the next CHOGM in Mauritius in 2015. This opportunity, if embraced, could also reap enormous dividends for the country’s international relations and positioning.

Moreover, among the forums that will accompany CHOGM, the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) is a unique gathering of business leaders from developed and emerging markets that aims to promote trade and investment. CBF 2013 will focus on the theme, “Partnering for Wealth Creation and Social Development: The Commonwealth, Indian Ocean, Pacific and SAARC.” That presents a tremendous opportunity for Sri Lanka to look for new partnerships and opportunities. Typically, at every CBF the host country benefits most; for instance, $10 billion in deals were sealed for Australia at CBF 2011 in Perth. For Sri Lanka, a $2 billion opportunity is projected for CBF 2013.

The global private sector looks for certainty of policy and broad governance structures for enabling investment. Sri Lanka has demonstrated consistency in these two aspects, hence private sector investment ought to be forthcoming, notably from the country’s diaspora.

Another forum, the 9th Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF9) will run from November 10 to 14, 2013 in Hambantota, bringing together over 200 young people from around the Commonwealth. The CYF9 forum will mark the formal beginning of the Commonwealth Youth Council as the official voice for young people in the Commonwealth and will host the first General Assembly of the Council. The forum will also be a stepping-stone for the World Conference on Youth to be held in Sri Lanka in May 2014. This is an exciting time to be a youth advocate in the Commonwealth.

Spice and herbal exports to EU increase

Sri Lanka's spice and herbal product exports have grown steadily over the years, said Head of Mission, European Union (EU), David Daly at the 10th Annual General Meeting of the Spice Council last week. He said that the EU imports around 28,500 tonnes of spices from developing countries and added that imports from Sri Lanka is on the rise.

“Sri Lanka's spices have great demand in the EU. The country should focus on exporting more valued added products to enhance export revenue. Exporting to the EU is challenging.

Exporters should focus on quality products. The food and heath standard in the region is high,” Daly said. He said that despite all these challenges it will still be rewarding if exporters adhere to trade regulations of the EU and boost export of value added products to the region.

The EU is a major market for Sri Lankan spices. Exports to the region have grown 11 percent year-on-year. Export revenue from spices to the EU was US$ 236 million last year which was a 55 percent growth compared to the previous year.Spice Council, Chairman, Sarada de Silva said that the industry is optimistic of a better fourth quarter with improved weather and global market conditions. Spice exports last year grew by a round six percent.

Export revenue slumped early this year due to adverse weather conditions. Exports of cinnamon, pepper, cloves, essential oils and other spice products did well last year. De Silva said that the percentage of value addition has increased and the country exports organic essential oils, oleo resins, flavours of most spices and herbal products.

The Council called upon the government to accede to the Madrid and Lisbon agreements which will help Sri Lankan companies in branding and registering trademarks.

Country's capital market will rise

Sri Lanka's capital market will develop in the near future as the country is now stable, while investor confidence is growing, said Bank of Ceylon (BoC), Chairman Razik Zarook at the launch of the Rs. 4 billion long-term BoC debenture issue in Colombo last week.

Responding to a query on issues in Sri Lanka's capital market, liquidity and secondary market issues of debentures, he said that there is development in the capital market and new instruments and new investors are coming in and, therefore, intervention in the market is not necessary.

The BoC debenture issue which opens tomorrow and is one of the largest debenture issues of any commercial bank in the country.Senior Deputy General Manager, International, Treasury and Investment of BoC, P.A. Lionel said that according to market investigations the debenture will be oversubscribed by 200% and the bank expects over Rs.15 billion in subscriptions mainly from local institutional investors.

“We encourage individual subscribers too to invest but the main subscribers will be the corporates with excess liquidity,” he said.He said that this debenture issue will portray BoC's strength, increase its tier-two capital and help to fulfill the long-term financial needs of the bank and invest in long-term projects such as infrastructure development of the economy. Investors know our strength and we are the number one commercial bank in the country in all criteria, we have an over one trillion asset base and our two recent bond issues were also oversubscribed by eight times and six times, he said.

This unsecured, subordinated and redeemable debentures have maturity periods ranging from 5-10 years. The debentures have been rated AA (Lanka) by Fitch Ratings (Lanka) Ltd.This issue is an opportunity for the public to invest their money at minimum risk in the present volatile market. The Rs. 4 billion issue with an option to increase it to eight billion in the event of over-subscription, consists of nine debenture types of various fixed and floating coupon rates with tenors between 5-10 years.

This is an ideal investment option for long term investors concerned over interest rates. Another advantage of investing debentures is that they are exempt from withholding and corporate taxes, Lionel said.

Mapping Child Abuse in Sri Lanka

There is a high incidence of child sexual abuse and exploitation occurring in Sri Lanka. The current trend in the country shows that there is lack of parental care and awareness which has led to abuse among children. In majority of the cases, the perpetrator is a close family member or a person well known to the family. According to the Deputy Solicitor General, nearly 45% of the cases heard in the higher courts in the country were estimated to be related to child abuse pointing at a high incidence of the problem in the country. Therefore, it is the need of the hour that parents and family members are made aware of situations where a child would be unsafe. It is also essential that remedial measures are taken when high risk or vulnerable family situations are identified.

Godakumbura workshop with children and parents in Sri Lanka

In the backdrop of this situation, Kantha Shakthi (KS) has developed an intervention which seeks to protect children abused due to vulnerable conditions at home. The intervention aims at sensitising field officers, grassroots level administrators, Community Based Organizations and Public Health Midwives on identifying vulnerable families and taking measures to prevent child abuse in these families.

KS believes that field officers and Public Health Midwives working at the grassroots level, visiting families to carry out their day to day activities, is the best target group to raise awareness on how to identify high risk and vulnerable families where children are at the risk of being abused. The specific activity of the programme is to raise awareness among field officers and midwives attached to Local Government (LG) Institutions to identify vulnerable families and taking preventive action to protect children of such families from being abused. Although it is very difficult for local NGOs to carry out such intervention, KS has been successfully able to enter into this arena through this programme and has been well appreciated by the Local Government now who support and recognise KS as a potential organisation.

Previously, field officers attached to LG institutions presented practical issues that they faced while dealing with vulnerable families and children from high risk families. They were not aware of the action that was required to overcome this situation. After the training programme they were able to identify the relevant officer or institution that they should link with in order to solve these issues. For e.g. midwives attached to the office of MoH did not know that they could link with the Social Service Officer at the Divisional Secretariat to solve issues related to children.

With the help of the training programme, now there has been greater awareness among filed officers on how to identify vulnerable families and on actions to prevent child abuse. They are now aware of other government institutions to link up with to solve issues of children at high risk of being abused. As a result, KS also gets requests from Local Government Institutions from other areas to conduct similar programmes. 

My Caring Family is My First Right "SAAGN"

SAAGN Alliance led Regional Communication Campaign on "My Caring Family is My First Right" was launched on 1st June 2013 to raise awareness on Family as the first place where children can see their rights. SAAGN launched the campaign through an online petition on www.change.org on 1st June 2013 as its first initiative to launch the campaign. http://chn.ge/13pA6pp. The petition has been signed by more than 12,000 individuals all across the world.

In India, Don Bosco Ashalayam, Delhi organized a Letter writing and Drawing com-petition involving 150 children depicting their ideas, love and the role of the family, after which they also organized an interactive session with children along with distribu-tion of posters and bumper stickers in the local community. J.N. Bal Nikunj Samiti, Lakhimpur- Kheri, UP on the other hand organized a painting competition on the theme ‘Importance of family for children’ with 38 children. Open Learning Systems, Orissa and Mahila Development Centre, Bihar organized Rallys with children who disseminated posters and bumper stickers produced as a part of the campaign collat-erals by Butterflies, Delhi. Shreyas, Kerala, organized a workshop with 50 children through which they carried out interactive sessions and group work with children. They also conducted school campaigning programmes in four schools in the tribal areas of Waynad district with 800 children and 40 teachers who actively took part in putting up posters in the school premises as well as the near by areas. Sadhbhabna, Keonjar organised a rally with 70 children in Prayas, a school for differently abled children in Naranpur, Keonjar in Orissa. In September, they also organised a debate competi-tion with children on “Is a Caring Family A Child’s first right” in which more than 100 children took part.

Likewise, in Sri Lanka, Kantha Shakthi Organization (KSO), organised a workshop on 12th August, 2013 for officers working at the grassroots level at the Divisional Secretariat (DS) office to identify and strengthen vulnerable families in Badaragama village in Kalutara district. A total no. of 125 participants comprising of Child rights promotion officers, Village Sub Divisions head, Welfare scheme officers, Development Officers and Field Officers took part in the workshop. Five Awareness Raising Work-shops for parents and children were organised in the months of August and Septem-ber in Damhana, Godakumbura, Happugasthena, Panana, Walakadagama in Balangoda respectively. The workshops mainly focused on facilitating group discus-sions among children and adults who discussed about the various issues they confront in their daily lives owing to the pressure of economic and social instabilities ranging from lack of job opportunities for parents to harmful practices like child marriage.

Meanwhile, in Nepal, Child Nepal organised a National workshop on “My Family is my First Right” on 18th– 19th August, 2013. The objective of the workshop was to sensitize government agencies on child rights issues, to promote advanced and posi-tive changes in the implementation of policies and legislations. A total of 66 partici-pants from various government and non government institutions like National Human Rights Commission, Central Children’s Welfare Board, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women, Child and Social Welfare, Women and Children Cell of police, other non governmental institutions, media persons etc. took part in the workshop. Five presen-tations on thematic areas like Child Marriage, Trafficking, Sexual Abuse and Exploita-tion, Corporal Punishment and Child Labour were also presented during the workshop. The discussions were further incorporated in the recommendations put forth by the Nepal chapter during the SAAGN regional consultation held later in the same month.

In Bangladesh, Art competitions were organized by two organizations, Come to Work (CTW), Dinajpur and Centre for Rights and Development –CRD, Panchaghra on 22nd and 17th August, 2013 respectively. The art competitions were held with the objective of spreading larger awareness among school functionaries, children and parents. Further, discussion group meeting were organised by three alliance partners, namely; Hitaishi Bangladesh, Dhaka, Jhikor Gacha Development Organization (JDO), Jessore and Manob Kallyan O Samajik Unnyan Sangstha, Khulna on 3rd, 24th and 25th August, 2013 respectively. The meetings were conducted to carry our preparatory discussions on the thematic issues concerning children. The recommen-dations from the meetings were formulated and presented at the Kathmandu regional consultation. Parents meetings were organized by Jhikor Gacha Development Or-ganization (JDO), Jessore, Mayer Anchol, Khulna and Manob Kalyan O Samajik Unnyan Sangsths, Khulna on 19th August, 8th September and 22nd September 2013 respectively. The meetings provided a platform for Urban parents, social activist and child leaders to discuss issues concerning children. Work and Rural Develop-ment (WARD), Jessore organized a workshop on 15 August 2013 for sensitizing the Department of Local Administration on Child Rights and the importance of child sensitive policies and legislations supporting Children’s act 1974. Manob Kalyan O Samajik Unnyan Sangsthan, Khulna also organised a Folk Song competition em-phasizing upon the relevance of child rights in urban and semi– urban areas.

In Afghanistan, the Campaign on Children Rights to the Family was spread exten-sively through SMSs, the company Roshan telecommunications reached out to 3 million people through broadcasting these messages written by children. Five such messages like, “Children should not be deprived of love, respect and compassion,” “Families should treat boys and girls equally,” were selected out of 25 messages written by children from Aschiana on 21st July 2013 in Kabul City.

On 25th September 2013 ,Aschiana, as a part of the Campaign organised a painting and Art Exhibition in which 400 children participated. The paintings exhibited were selected from painting competitions held with children in four provinces,Kabul, Mazar Sharif, Herat and Gardiz in Afghanistan. Children who participated in the event were interviewed and were motivated to express their views on importance of a caring family. The programme was broadcasted National Radio and TV channels. 

SL - India to sign MOU for Handloom, Powerloom and Textiles

India and Sri Lanka will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Development of SMEs in Handloom, Powerloom and Textiles on 9 September 2013,  . The MoU will be signed by Mrs. Zohra Chatterji, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and Mr. Anura Siriwardena, Secretary, Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Government of Sri Lanka.

Mrs Zohra Chatterji is leading an official and business delegation to Sri Lanka from 6-10 September for talks to enhance cooperation in the field of powerloom, handloom and textiles. During her visit she would call on Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development and Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry & Commerce and have meetings with Dr. P. B. Jayasundera, Secretary, Ministry of Finance & Planning and Mr Anura Siriwardena, Secretary, Ministry of Industry & Commerce. She would also meet members of Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF).

The visit of Mrs Chatterji also coincides with the inauguration of “India International Fabric Expo-2013” (IIFE-2013). This event is being organized by Powerloom Development Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL) with the support of the Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the High Commission of India at Hotel Galadari from 8-10 September, 2013. The inauguration ceremony on 9 September, 2013 will be graced by Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development and Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, H.E. Y. K. Sinha, High Commissioner of India and other dignitaries from Indian & Sri Lanka. 53 leading companies from India in the powerloom, handloom and textiles sector are participating in the IIFE-2013. PDEXCIL is also organizing a fashion show in the evening of 9 September, 2013 at Hotel Galadari. 

SAAGN's Kathmandu Summit for South Asia's Prosperity

South Asian Alliance of Grassroots is a coalition initiated in 2007 under the leadership of Butterflies India in unison with 4 leading NGOs from South Asian Countries –Aschiana in Afghanistan, Aparajeyo in Bangladesh, CWSN in Nepal and Kantha Shakti in Sri Lanka for the protection and promotion of child rights. Currently 139 grassroots NGOs from the five countries have joined in the effort of SAAGN. Acknowledging that two decades after the Summit World Fit for Children impressive gains have been made regarding children’s status by the South Asian countries. Today more children are at school, more children are better off than they were a decade ago, many more children are healthier today, are likely to see their fifth birth day and have higher hopes than the generation that came before them. Nevertheless, these achievements and gains have been uneven and below the expected progress.

 Participants from members’ countries 

SAAGN- the South Asian alliance of 139 NGOs from five nations-Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka- for the protection and promotion of child rights in the region reiterates the above through the recent research conducted as a part of the project‘ Civil Society Alliance for Child Rights in South Asia’. Literacy rate in South Asia still remains at 58.4%, with Afghanistan (39%) recording a level lower than the regional average. Literacy level was also uneven across gender groups and regions. More than 90% of children are enrolled in school. But those who complete V grade are much lower indicating a high dropout rate. 

The quality of education too still remains dismally low. Survival of the child poses a major threat to children in South Asia.  The MDG target for 2015 on reduction in infant mortality rate, increased skilled birth attendance and ante natal care are likely to be missed by most of the countries in the region. While only Bangladesh is on track to achieve the target in the former, only Sri Lanka is likely to reach the target in the latter. Nepal has also been able to fulfil its MDG Targets. Similarly, under-5 Mortality and Maternal Mortality rate targets are elusive to Afghanistan and India. Most of the South Asian countries are well either on track or have achieved the target for improved drinking water source. Nevertheless, except Sri Lanka all the others are either off the track or need to make additional efforts to achieve the effective sanitation systems in their respective countries.

Poverty too remains aggressive in South Asia with only Sri Lanka reporting headway towards the MDG target. Apart from the above, survival and developmental issues, children are victims of a number of crimes. The study reports the presence of millions of children missing, on streets, in child labour (44 Million), with disabilities (42 million), trafficked, victims of sexual abuse and exploitation, early marriage, in armed conflict and in conflict with law. The figures presented in the study could be considered only as a tip of the ice berg as most of these crimes go under reported. Child participation in governance also remains at a minimal level in the region with most being in a programmatic manner. Subsequently, based on the recommendations and action plans that emerged out of the Kathmandu Consultation in August 2013, we the members of SAAGN along with civil society members, Trade Union members, Media representatives resolve to undertake the following:

    1.Taking note of the precarious conditions of children in the region, SAAGN and civil society members from the five countries reaffirm their commitment to the protection and promotion of child rights  and resolve to make the region fit for children with an accentuated effort to mitigate the specific survival, developmental and protection issues faced by all children in particular, children who are differently abled and marginalized across the region.

                                                    

2.Recognising family as the institution to be strengthened for ensuring a better survival, development and protection for children, SAAGN pledges to work towards to support marginalised and vulnerable families through designing and implementing family strengthening programmes in partnership with grassroots NGOs and local and state level governments. Moreover, we appeal to the national governments that no policies or programmes shall in any way infringe on the family fabric of the society and shall instead enhance their efforts in strengthening families so as to create a safe environment for children.

3. Concerned at the lack of data related to the aforementioned issues SAAGN members resolve to collate and document the data related to these issues in partnership with research organisations and institutions in their respective areas. Moreover, the members appeal to the national governments to put in place mechanisms for  collation of data and tracking  of  birth and marriage registrations, children and family migration at all levels i.e., village, provincial, state and national.  SAAGN will endeavour to develop measurable indicators of social, economic and cultural rights of children.

4. SAAGN website would have a special section on its website, with a collation of all legislations in the region pertaining to child rights. SAAGN would also make efforts to disseminate information and knowledge materials to journalists across the region.

5. Welcoming the existence of various legislations to ensure the rights of children, the members wish to advocate for their review in order to bridge the gaps and make it in the best interest of the child.

6. To advocate for an enactment for a special legislation to prevent sexual offence against children in countries where it does not already exist.

7. To lobby for establishing minimum standards and strengthen the quality of care services for the recovery and reintegration of child victims and adequate compensation and rehabilitation services.

8.     We express serious concern over the violations of rights of children in conflict with law and those in need of care and protection. SAAGN appeals to the national governments to review the existing juvenile justice system, and make appropriate modification for the best interests of the children keeping in mind the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Beijing Rules for administration of juveniles in conflict with law.

9.  We consider strict enforcement of legislations as one of the effective measures to prevent crimes against children. Subsequently, the members resolve to monitor various cases related to children and make advocacy and networking along with public outcry to ensure proper enforcement of the laws in favour of children.

10.  We urge all the governments in the region to review the budgetary allocations for programs for children, especially in education, life skills education and health care and in implementation of the various laws and putting in place infrastructure so as to ensure maximum benefit to all children.

11. To encourage National governments to implement sustainable anti-poverty programs, this is part of their stated national plans of action and to periodically review the implementation of the same.

12.  Document Best Practices in the region and disseminate the same to NGOs, civil society organisations and government to adapt some of these Best Practices in their countries.

13.  Advocate with the government to have special Police Units for Children across the region.

14.  To dialogue with national governments to establish Child helpline services with the same calling number (1098) across the region.

15.  Wherever there is an absence of Child Rights commissions, to advocate for the same.

16. Emphasising that children are better spokespersons for themselves, the Alliance resolves to make every effort through lobbying and advocacy to ensure age appropriate and informed participation of children in governance. We wish to engage children in meaningful and critical examination of changing contemporary values and norms along with the various exploitations experienced by them so as to design and develop strategies to prevent abuse and protect their childhood.

17.  SAAGN is committed to work towards facilitating a resource pool of legal professionals in each of the member countries as defenders of child rights at the ground level. The vision that SAAGN envisages is to build ‘lawyers without borders’- a dedicated group of lawyers who work closely with grassroots NGOs and take up cases for children pro bono.

18.  SAAGN, in its coming phase, looks forward to working closely with Local Self Government functionaries, teachers,  law enforcement functionaries, judiciary, trade unions, media especially community radio and local television channels to take forward child rights agenda and can help in functioning as watch dogs at the local and national level. Strengthen and capacitate all protection agencies to ensure that children’s rights are protected and guaranteed at the community level.

19.  We also propose a structured sensitization and awareness programme for our legislators/policy makers across the region.

20. Welcoming the initiatives taken by SAIVEC, UNICEF and other UN agencies, INGOs for preventing atrocities against children, the Alliance extends its support to these agencies in creating a child friendly South Asia.

21. SAAGN will  make efforts to work towards partnering with more grassroots NGOs in the region including Pakistan, Bhutan and Maldives.

SAAGN decides and resolves to create South Asia a child friendly region by attempting to ensure for every child, the best possible start to life; better survival, better education, protection, growth and development in good health and proper nutrition; making concerted efforts to prevent all acts of crimes against children, abuse, exploitation, discrimination and thus building a safe environment for them that enables them to be physically healthy, mentally alert, emotionally secure and socially competent. Confident of change we as one body pledge to build for children a world where every girl and boy is assured of their childhood; where their hopes are rekindled; where they are educated; where their rights are protected; where they are dignified and respected; where their voices are heard and where they enjoy dignified life. SAAGN will work towards having a follow up to this consultation to record the progress on this resolution by the alliance, civil society organisation.