Children, Women's Desk opened in Amparai Police HQ

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 September 2004, 02:12 GMT]
Mr. Neville Wijesinghe, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Eastern region Saturday declared open UNICEF supported Children and Women's Desk at Amparai Police Headquarters. The effort is intended to encourage reporting of abuses, promote dialogue with the officiers responsible for protection of citizens, and reduce trauma in children and their families, UNICEF officials said.

Mr.Abeyapala addressing the event while UNICEF Batticaloa zone head Ms Andrea James looks. DIG Mr.Neville Wijesinghe seen behind Mr.Abayapala

Ms Andrea James unveiled the commemorative plaque. The event commenced with a cultural procession led by students of Ampara schools and the officers of the Children's and Women's desks in the Ampara district.

Mr.W.M.Abeyapala, Assistant Superintendent of Police who is in charge of the Children's and Women's desks stressed in his opening address that the goal of the Desk is to provide better protection and greater awareness on children's and women's rights.

The SSP Ampara Police Division, members of the District Child Protection Committee and religious representatives also attended the event.

The new office will also work towards improving community-police relationship, officials said. A resource room was also opened. The facility is supplied with articles and books on the development and protection of children's and women's rights. The facility aims to strengthen the experience and knowledge of the Children and Women's desk staff of the district, said UNICEF in a press release issued Saturday.




Cultural procession before the opening event of the unit



UNICEF provided additional support to the Desk by providing a fax and photocopy machine, a three-wheeler, office furniture, resource materials as well as building supplies. The UN children's agency is also supporting the Children's and Women's Desk of Police to build safer, more child friendly communities through the implementation of awareness and training programmes on child rights and the prevention of child abuse.

These meetings have already commenced in many areas of the district, including Amparai, Akkaraipattu, Dehiattakandiya and Damana, the press release added.

There are currently thirteen Children's and Women's Desks of Police functioning throughout Amparai District, with plans to open two more desks within the year. Through their activities, the Children's and Women's desks will serve as an active reminder that child protection is everybody's responsibility and encourage both adults and children to create an environment at home, in schools and in the community, where children are protected and given the best chances to develop to their full potential, the release concluded.