Any touch without consent can be a bad touch, says Dr. Thushara Wickramanayake

Greater emphasis must be placed on children's consent when discussing physical contact, as the traditional concept of good touch and bad touch should be considered alongside a child's right to decide whether they are comfortable with being touched, child rights activist Dr. Thushara Wickramanayake said.

Any physical contact with a child could be inappropriate if it takes place without consent, Wickramanayake stated in a social media post accompanying two photographs involving politicians and children.

Describing the interaction shown in one photograph as unacceptable, Wickramanayake stated that it highlighted wider concerns over child protection in Sri Lanka.

The second photograph was taken when a petition carrying around 40,000 signatures was handed over to Parliament by the Stop Child Cruelty Trust, Wickramanayake stated.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa asked a boy if it was acceptable to place hands on his shoulder before placing hands on the shoulders of the child.

Surprised to hear the question, Wickramanayake cited the interaction as an example of respecting the right of a child to consent.

Beyond categorising physical contact simply as good touch or bad touch, the consent of a child must be respected as the main message communicated to society.

Giving children the right to provide or refuse consent helps empower them and forms an important part of protecting their rights, according to Wickramanayake.

Any touch could become a bad touch or potentially amount to a violation of rights if it takes place against the wishes of a child, Wickramanayake stated.

Authorities failed to implement the National Child Protection Policy, Wickramanayake stated while questioning the effectiveness of child protection initiatives lacking a proper understanding of the right of children to say no.

Age-appropriate sexuality education must become compulsory alongside greater awareness among adults, including politicians, on respecting personal boundaries of children, Wickramanayake added.