COLOMBO, May 22 -- Sri Lanka's National Commission on Women (NCW) on Thursday (21) called for stronger legal, psychosocial and institutional protections for a child survivor at the centre of an alleged sexual abuse case, stressing the need for an independent and impartial investigation free from intimidation, victim-blaming and political or social interference.

In a statement, the Commission said the rights, dignity and wellbeing of the child must remain paramount throughout the legal process and warned against any actions that could lead to re-traumatization or public exposure of the survivor.

The Commission commended steps already taken by the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) to ensure the child's safety and protection, but ...