Till fourteen she was there. The main occupant was mischievous, she was forced to leave the house and she got to an unruly crowd on the way side they directed her to a brothel and Thiyasha was not aware of it. The very first day she was abused by the owner of that place, knowing her plight an elderly woman working there helped her to go to the police. By the police she was brought to her hometown but she could neither trace her home nor her parents, so she was taken back to the place where she was brought, and now she is in an Institution not knowing where her people are.
(All the case studies are true incidents but the original names and places are changed to avoid identification)

ANALYSIS

Of the cases studied the researcher has gathered the following facts:

A child was abused physically. - Lal's case

Three children were abused due to physical neglect.- Anura, Prema 			and Leela.

A girl was sexually abused - Sumana

Another case of emotional neglect - Rifana

Another case of child labour - Renuka

Why the children were abused?

Four cases were due to circumstances of poverty and other reasons

a) Lal - poverty and lack of parental love

b) Anura, Prema and Leela - poverty and lack of parental love.

c) Sumana - Father's promiscuity

d) Rifana - poverty and lack of parental love

e) Renuka - poverty and lack of parental love

Circumstances

Of the cases studied four were due to circumstances of poverty and broken families, which led them to neglect their children. The age group of the children who were abused 4-18 years of age.

Out of the Jive cases

-Six were girls and two were boys

The researcher's findings revealed that more girls were abused than boys.

Conclusion

Lastly, from all the facts that were gathered we see that 50% have come from poor family background. This research and above analysis shows that much of physical abuse of children take place or originate due to poverty and broken families.

We can also say that 25% of the child abuse can take place due to alcoholism of parents.

There is also 25% of children abused due to employment as domestic helpers. We also can conclude that domestic service by children also leads to child abuse.

Suggestions

1. Poverty elimination is the first remedy.

Since we have found that 50% of child abuse takes place in the circumstances of poverty. So poverty elimination comes as the first remedy.

2. If parents are alcoholics - education of the parents and prevention of 		alcoholism is the second remedy.

3. Broken families - conduct awareness programmes in the village level and educate the parents in order to show them their responsibility 	towards their children.

4. House hold employment has been a cause of child abuse so strict laws should be imposed to penalize those who contravene the law. In 	Sri Lanka there are child protection laws but they are not strictly enforced.

Reference sources

Child Rights - UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

Child Protection Procedures - Terre des homes Tdh

Child Development - Probation Office - District Child Probation Unit

http/Avw.childline. org.uk/helpandadvice. asp

(Words used 2,805)

Annexure

The questions asked by the researcher from the Probation Officer:

1. What's your name Sir?

I am Mr. Bala Ranjan

2. What is your position sir?

I am a Probation Officer

3. How long have you been in this position?

Two years

4. Have you ever come across cases of physical child abuse?

Yes

5. Roughly how many?

Sixty cases

6. Are they male or female?

They are mostly female.

7. With regard to male children, can you specify the age group? What is the age group of the female children abused.?

Boys 5 years - 14 years Girls 7 years - 18 years

8. Have you come across cases of parents beating children?

Yes

9. Was it very serious?

At times they are quite serious

10. As regards to girls were there cases of serious sex abuse?

Yes

11. Can you please tell me the circumstances from which these children come from eg. Poverty

Yes

Broken families - Yes

Alcoholic parents - yes

12. Out of the cases you mentioned how many come from circumstances of

•Poverty -Nearly 50

•Broken families 25 cases

•Alcoholic parents - 25 cases

13. So thank you very much Sir, for spending this time with me and providing me with valuable information regarding child abuse. May 		God bless you and your service.

The questions asked by the researcher from the child victim

1. Are you happy

here? Yes

2. Are you studying

well? No answer

3. Can you concentrate on your studies, can you understand what

your teacher teaches you in the class? No

4. Why, what is the problem? Are you feeling home sick or is

there anything troubling you? Yes

5. What is it?

Each time 1 try to concentrate 1 can't, whenever I see my Maths master, he reminds me of the person who abused me so I do not want to look at him.

6. Now you think that is finished, now you have begun a new chapter in your life. You are in a new set up, where you see girls like you, they are your friends, you are not left alone. You try to concentrate in your studies and say to yourself that, "I wil be a teacher and stand on my own feet". With that goal ahead of you begin anew.

"Thank you for your encouraging words I will study well in the future".
