Page 26 - KDU INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

KDU International Journal of Criminal Justice (KDUIJCJ)
Volume I | Issue II| July 2024

‘standalone’ entity. It has to network and collaborate with other
institutions and officials who connect and make up related government

mechanisms established to protect vulnerable and marginalized

individuals and communities. Integrated approaches are vital to ensure
protection to Victims and Witnesses of Crimes. These bridges have to be

built, strengthened and maintained.

Priyani’s case is another Child Trafficking story. Priyani was sold to hotels

for sex by her Mother who herself was a sex worker. Trishaws

transported Priyani to hotels. The Police arrested her and her Mother and
they were both in prison. She was then sent to an orphanage where she

was very unhappy because she was bullied and made to do hard work.
She was beaten up in school for coming late and not doing her homework.

This was because of the chores she had to do at the orphanage. Finally,

she was sent to a training centre where she could remain for another year.
This victim of Trafficking does not want to leave the Centre she currently

is in because she thinks she will be forced into criminal activities once

again.
No amount of Psycho social therapy would give Priyani courage to face

the world as a confident young woman because of the horrendous
instances of revictimization she has gone through. At the time she related

the story the victim was 17 years of age. The oppressed and the exploited

who suffer economic violence often resort to counter violence and live
their lives as harmful anti-social elements or perpetrators who are a

burden on the economy. The motto of the Legal Aid Foundation of the Bar

Association of Sri Lanka is: “Work for Justice and peace will result.”
Writing about Legal Aid Dr. A.R.B.Amerasinghe questions:

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