END
VIOLENCE
AGAINST
CHILDREN

1000+children supported with essentials and education material

500+teachers trained in positive discipline techniques

8major advocacy milestones against corporal punishment

2026continuing national and regional child protection work

About Us

A focused civil society voice for children

SCCT is a registered charitable trust in Sri Lanka focused on ending violence against children, especially ending corporal punishment in schools. It is a mammoth task to stop all forms of child cruelty, but it is entirely possible to focus on a critical piece of the puzzle: rectifying and ending physical punishment in schools.

We speak for the voiceless, act for the defenseless and think for the lawmakers. Our work is built around advocacy, legal and legislative reform, training, education, empowerment and public awareness.

Join us to deliver a dawn free of violence for the true beneficiaries of the future - our children.

SCCT community program with children and supporters

Vision, Mission, Objectives

Built for sustainable protection, not short-term noise

The trust works toward a healthy school environment where children are happy, free of fear, and free of physical and mental hurt.

Vision

Facilitate a healthy school environment for children so that they are happy, free of fear and free of physical and mental hurt and anguish.

Mission

To vigorously campaign to end corporal punishment in schools and all settings in Sri Lanka.

Objectives

To ensure authorities responsible for child protection uphold national and international laws, so no child is subjected to cruel or degrading punishment in schools and every child can learn in a safe, happy environment that promotes mental wellbeing.

Safeguarding

We take safeguarding seriously and place child safety at the center of every program, campaign, partnership and public engagement.

Our Achievements

Milestones that moved child protection into public policy

SCCT has helped elevate corporal punishment and child safety from hidden abuse to national conversation, legal reform and international accountability.

CSO's Unite in South Asia

Joint statement on International Day to End Corporal Punishment 2024.

SCCT Defends Children at UNHRC

Record number of states endorsed abolishing corporal punishment in 2023.

Child Rights Submission to UN

SCCT submits recommendations to UNHRC UPR 4th Cycle 2022.

Global End Violence - Champion

The first Sri Lankan to be recognized at the 2021 Children and Youth Awards.

Supreme Court Judgement

Landmark verdict given against corporal punishment of children 2021.

Victory of Two Petitions

Over 5000 signatories appeal to end child abuse 2020.

Historic Appeal Registered at UNHRC

2019 first appeal against corporal punishment and psychological abuse.

Action Plan to End Corporal Punishment

The 'Pentagon Proposal' submitted to the President in 2018.

Our Work

Training, awareness and advocacy working together

With your help we provide education and training to teachers and students, awareness and empowerment to the general public and advocacy and advisory to the government of Sri Lanka on juvenile justice reforms. Sri Lanka is the only pathfinder country of South Asia committed to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.2, end violence against children as per the 2005 regional consultation of the UN. In 2024 Sri Lanka made four pledges at the first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence against Children conducted in Bogota; the foremost was to implement legal reforms to abolish corporal punishment in all settings.

Training

Educate, Energize, Empower

In 2017, a Study on Child Disciplinary Methods Practiced in Schools in Sri Lanka conducted by National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) confirmed 80% of students are subjected to at least one episode of corporal punishment in one school term, 53% to physical abuse and 72.5% to psychological aggression. SCCT conducts extensive National Level Training to strengthen teacher-student relationship, improve psycho-social wellbeing and non-violent conflict resolution via positive discipline strategies to end physical and verbal punishment within schools in Sri Lanka.

Teacher training session — Teachers practicing mindfulness exercise during a training program. The teacher training programs are focused on stress management as individual adults, which support personal development and knowledge and skills update essential for professional growth and development.

Awareness

A Multi-Pronged Effort To Gain Public Support

Stop Child Cruelty Trust (SCCT) works with local partners, media and public to raise awareness on protecting and promoting child rights focusing on ending violence against children including corporal punishment. Physical punishment is normalized and justified in societies across all ethnicities and social strata, which requires sensitive and sustained efforts to change attitudes. SCCT has conducted several spectacular campaigns annually to maintain public interest resulting in child protection and ending violence against children has elevated to a daily topic of discussion; a definite shift in pendulum with change in attitudes has been observed with many adults, including teachers denouncing the heinous practice of corporal punishment openly on social media.

Advocacy

Solidarity Is Key

SCCT work in partnership with government and non-government organizations both locally and internationally committed to protect and promote child rights and enhance policy making and legislative reforms. Our Founder Chairperson has been appointed to several key committees on juvenile justice reforms and education reforms. We have actively participated in several parliamentary committee discussions on introducing compulsory comprehensive sexuality and relationship education, safe and enabling school environments and expediting backlog of thousands of cases of child abuse. A media conference is conducted every year to keep the public informed of progress and critical issues requiring support.

Advocacy and policy discussion — Government Ministers and UNICEF Country Representative participated at an event conducted by SCCT and making a pledge to elevate child protection to the heart of the national security agenda.

Ways You Can Help

Campaigns and programs that give children a voice

Supporters help keep programs moving beyond slogans: practical support for children, safer schools, policy pressure, public storytelling and national conversation.

Our Children

A chronicle of resilience against child abuse. Our Children is a poignant collection of real-life stories narrated by survivors of child abuse, giving them a platform to voice traumatic experiences, often for the first time.

No Guti

A national campaign to end physical abuse and corporal punishment. The campaign appointed influential actors, singers and public figures as Child Protection Goodwill Ambassadors, a first in Sri Lanka.

Support Us

Your support becomes programs, not executive salaries

SCCT is a not-for-profit organization. Executives work voluntarily and donations are allocated directly toward programs. We do not believe in ad hoc projects with short-term gain; the work is focused on sustainable long-term change aligned with national and international good practice.

Donating

We are grateful for every gift. Monthly SLR 5,000 / GBP 12 / USD 16 can help provide counseling for a child victim or educational support. A single SLR 10,000 / GBP 25 / USD 30 donation could help conduct training for 10 teachers.

Campaigning

When you sign a petition, speak to representatives or share stories, you take a stand for children. SCCT is proud to influence laws and policies, but that is only possible when supporters and volunteers join together.

Fund Raising

Set up a fundraiser, coffee morning, auction, car wash, garage sale, concert or charity walk. Every cent raised helps build a better world for a child.

Volunteering

Opportunities include fundraising, campaigning, staying connected and spreading facts, images and video through social networks, blogs and websites. Short-term support may be needed for one-off activities, projects and events.

Every Penny / Cent Helps

Donate directly to Stop Child Cruelty Trust

Violence against children, especially corporal punishment, is a preventable crime unfit for children of the 21st century. You can transfer directly from any local or foreign account, in any currency and any amount.