• AI-fueled offences raise alarm
• NCPA records over 5,500 complaints
• 9,000 complaints received last year

With over 5,000 child abuse complaints being received by the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), several programs are being conducted to raise awareness and promote quick and efficient action in managing such complaints.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, NCPA Director – Law Enforcement, Attorney-at-Law Sajeewani Abeykoon said that the NCPA was continuing its present awareness programs while a cybersecurity-focused initiative would be conducted in the coming months.The four-month initiative will consist of eight programs at provincial levels, aimed at educating Government officers on digital literacy, cybercrimes, and recognizing such offences.

Abeykoon addressed the rise in children under the age of 18 being perpetrators of violence and not just victims, with cyberspaces and the rise of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) being core factors in such situations.“We are now seeing a trend of child suspects. Boys below the age of 18 are creating nude pictures using AI technology,” she said. “Some pressure their girlfriends for pictures and then share them around. That is sexual harassment according to the law.”Abeykoon however said that there did not seem to be a significant increase in the number of cases reported annually. “Usually we get up to 10,000 complaints in a year. Last year, we got more than 9,000 complaints,” she said.

According to the latest ‘Child Abuse and Other Child-Related Complaints Reported to NCPA’ report dated from 1 January to 30 June, a total of 5,523 complaints on offences against children – spanning a wide range of physical, sexual, and other offences – have been received by the NCPA.

Out of the reported offences, the most common is ‘CYPO 35 – In need of Care and Protection,’ which designates a vulnerable child who lacks proper guardianship, is exposed to danger, or is the victim of abuse, with 1,358 such complaints.

The complaints received also include 1,100 complaints of child cruelty, 60 complaints of grave sexual abuse, 213 complaints of sexual harassment, 99 complaints of unlawful abduction of children, 100 complaints related to the commercial sexual exploitation of children, 82 complaints of child labour, 40 complaints of teenage pregnancies, five complaints of child marriages, 112 complaints of cyber violence against children, 13 complaints involving attempted suicide by children, and more.

She added that the NCPA was also monitoring and ensuring the due process of child abuse cases nationwide. “If someone complains to the Police and has noticed that the investigation isn’t moving in the proper way, they can complain to the NCPA. Usually, some people get frustrated and ignore the case when the Police investigation is at an unsatisfactory level. The NCPA monitors and ensures that such investigations are happening correctly, and therefore the people should know that they can complain to our 24/7 helpline.”

The NCPA’s ChildLine is a private and confidential service for any child-related inquiry; 1929 can be contacted free of charge through any telecom provider from anywhere in the country 24/7.