A draft bill to amend the Penal Code regarding the physical punishment of children has been submitted to Parliament by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.

According to the Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa, once parliamentary proceedings related to this proposed amendment are concluded, the Ministry will take steps to issue relevant guidelines or directives to schools, if such instructions are deemed necessary.

The move comes after the Cabinet recently approved proposals for amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Penal Code to ban physical and psychological injuries caused by physical punishments in any sector.

Meanwhile, a recent report from the World Health Organization said corporal punishment causes significant harm to children’s health and development, revealing that globally, an estimated 1.2 billion children aged 0–18 years are subjected to physical punishment in their homes every year and that the practice in schools is equally widespread. (Newswire)

The post Physical punishment of children : Clarification from Education Ministry appeared first on Newswire.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved proposals for amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Penal Code to ban physical and psychological injuries caused by physical punishments in any sector.

According to the government, approval of the Cabinet was granted at their meeting held in April 2024 to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979 to impose provisions to ban physical punishments in any sector causing physical injuries. 

As such, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal presented by the Minister of Justice to grant its policy approval of the current Cabinet to formulate the relevant draft bill with amendments for the purpose.

The government further stated that it has been scientifically proven that the physical and psychological injury caused to a child due to physical punishment is immense. 

Therefore, approval was granted at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held in April 2024 to amend the penal code (19th Authority) so that provisions can be imposed to define penalties related to physical injury, as well as to ban injuries from physical punishments in any sector. 

Even though approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted to publish the draft bill of the  Penal Code (Amended) prepared by the Legal Draftsmen in the government gazette notification and submit the same to the Parliament, such action has not been carried out. 

Recognizing the requirement to legalize the said draft bill with immediate effect, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal by the Minister of Justice to publish the draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereafter submit the same to the Parliament for approval. (Newswire)

The post Cabinet approves ban on physical punishment across all sectors appeared first on Newswire.

Sri Lanka has withdrawn the proposed Penal Code Amendment Bill, which contained controversial provisions regarding the ‘Age of Consent’ and penalties for sexual offenders under the age of 22 years. 

Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe confirmed to NewsWire, that the proposed Penal Code Amendment Bill in its entirety has been withdrawn.

Concerns were initially raised after the proposed Bill was found to have proposed the amendment of the ‘Age of Consent’ from 16 to 14 years.

The Bill also contained provisions for the reduction of penalties concerning cases of sexual abuse involving individuals aged 14 to 16 and offenders under the age of 22.

In March, concerns were raised by various parties, including female politicians, female-led civil society groups, and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa regarding the provisions of the proposed bill. (NewsWire)

The post Justice Minister withdraws controversial Bill on ‘sexual consent’ appeared first on Newswire.

The main Opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has called on the government to review the proposed amendments to the Penal Code related to sexual offences against women.

Addressing the Parliament today, Opposition and SJB Leader MP Sajith Premadasa requested the government to consider revising the proposal to lower the age of capacity to consent to sex from 16 years to 14 years for female minors.

As per the current laws, the Penal Code as amended in 1995 gives the age of 16 years as the age threshold of capacity of a minor under 18 years to give consent to sex.

The Opposition Leader pointed out that there were objections from women-led societies in Sri Lanka over the said proposed amendments to the Penal Code and that the government must consider revising certain amendments. 

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has also called for the withdrawal of the Amendments to Chapter 19 of the Penal Code.

In a letter to the Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus requested that the bill gazetted on February 9, 2024, be withdrawn immediately.

The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus said that according to the amendments made to the Penal Code in 1995, even if a girl under 16 years of age has sexual relations of her own free will, it is considered rape.

The Parliamentary group pointed out that, however, the current proposed amendment to the Penal Code by the Minister of Justice proposed to further lower the age limit to 14 years.

Chair of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, MP Sudarshini Fernandopulle expressed deep concern about the proposed amendment to the said law, Section 364, of the Penal Code and called for its withdrawal.

“It is also requested on behalf of the Caucus to prioritise the protection of women and children and uphold justice for vulnerable populations in Sri Lanka,” she said. 

In her letter, MP Fernandopulle further informed that her Caucus is ready to discuss further information or alternative proposals in this regard at any time. (NewsWire)

The post Dropping consent age limit for minors to 14 years : Sajith, Women MPs object appeared first on Newswire.