Abstract:
Child sexual abuse is a serious crime prohibited by Sri Lankan
criminal law, which is discussed under child abuse. There are
various factors that contribute to the sexual abuse of children. This
research has conducted a criminological study of the family
environmental factors affecting child sexual abuse in Sri Lanka.
The research was conducted in the Kalutara and Colombo districts
of the Western Province and 228 sexually abused children were
used as the main sample in 2015-2020. Two separate samples
were also used for officers on duty with regard to parents and
children from the victims. The data obtained from the research
have been extensively analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively.
87% of victims of sexual abuse are girls. The majority of 42%
represent the 15-17 category. 47% of the majority are victims of
corruption. The boyfriend (42%) is responsible for most of the
abuse. 33% of victims have been sexually abused in their own
home and 32% in the home of the abuser. Family vulnerabilities
such as family economic difficulties, parental ignorance,
extramarital affairs, single parent family, parental separation,
family disputes, parental emigration, paternal and drug abuse,
various physical and mental disorders of the parents, family moral
decline, and breakdown of parent-child cooperation And various
problems of children, problems in the social environment can be
identified as factors contributing to sexual abuse. A child faces
many problems when he or she is sexually abused. This physical,
mental and social impact is detrimental not only to the child
affected but also to his family, society and the country as a whole.
It can be pointed out that an integrated approach is more effective
in controlling and preventing child sexual abuse.
