The Sri Lanka office of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF Sri Lanka) has condemned any acts of violence against children during the recent protests.

Issuing a statement on Saturday (07) UNICEF Sri Lanka said “UNICEF is concerned with reports of violence during protests involving children. All actors must guarantee the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, including for children“

Furthermore, the statement explains that according to the ‘Convention on the Rights of the Child‘, children and adolescents have the right to participate in and express their opinions on topics that concern them. UNICEF Sri Lanka emphasised that Children’s rights and protection are a shared duty of the state, local communities, and families.

The Child Protection Alliance has also written to the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka to investigate instances where children were harmed during protests after tear gas was used to disperse crowds.