| dc.description.abstract | The pervasive nature of the internet has facilitated a significant increase in online child
sexual exploitation and abuse worldwide. Since the transnational aspect of these crimes
poses a challenge for law enforcement agencies, a global concern has arisen from the
imperative to protect children from harmful experiences and support survivors. This
concern is also relevant to Sri Lanka, prompting the need to assess the adequacy of the
country’s legal framework. This research aims to determine whether Sri Lanka possesses
an adequate legal framework to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
This involves identifying the definition and scope of the offense, reviewing domestic
and international legal standards, analysing lacunas in domestic law, and proposing
recommendations to address those lacunas. A desk review of primary and secondary
resources, including international legal instruments such as the Convention on the Rights
of the Child, the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Pornography, and
Prostitution, the Lanzarote Convention, and the Budapest Convention, as well as domestic
legal provisions in the Penal Code and the Computer Crimes Act, was conducted. The
study revealed that Sri Lanka currently lacks an adequate legal framework to combat
online child sexual exploitation and abuse effectively. There is no specific legislation
directly addressing this offence. Hence, Sri Lanka should enhance its efforts to implement
new legislation targeting online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Only then can Sri
Lanka make significant progress in the fight against online child sexual exploitation and
abuse, fulfilling its obligations to protect the rights of its children. | en_US |
