Sri Lanka’s First Child Rights Council in Action

Child poverty and inequity have been persistent challenges in Sri Lanka, intensifying dramatically over the past five years due to multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 economic collapse. While the country has established social protection systems, there is an urgent need to strengthen safety nets and assistance structures.

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Recent data reveals a stark reality: poverty rates have nearly doubled to 23.8% in 2022, with over 2.5 million additional people falling into poverty compared to 2021. Poor families with children are particularly vulnerable to this deepening economic crisis.

Recognising a critical gap in understanding child experiences, Child Action Lanka, a Charity dedicated to improving circumstances for poor children conducted the Child Rights Awareness programme with nine marginalised communities. These locations included Akkarayan, Batticaloa, Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Nuwara Eliya, and the Rosewald Estate in Bogawantalawa. The programme sought to uphold children’s rights to participate in decisions affecting their lives, as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.