The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has reinforced its commitment to fighting online child abuse by supporting the Sri Lanka Police (SLP) in developing key investigative tools and knowledge. As part of this initiative, two senior SLP officers visited Australia in August, where they engaged with experts at the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) and the Queensland Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (QLD JACET).
The visit, which took place from 18 to 29 August, was timed to coincide with National Child Protection Week 2024. The AFP highlighted the visit to underscore the importance of its international partnerships in tackling online child predators.
SLP Women and Children’s Bureau Deputy Inspector General Renuka Jayasundara and Officer-in-Charge Kandeepan Sirivaraj, both key figures in Sri Lanka’s newly-formed child exploitation team, participated in the program. Their visit was funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under the Australia Awards in South Asia and Mongolia program.
During their time at the AFP-led ACCCE, the SLP officers met with investigators, intelligence specialists from the Intelligence Fusion Cell, victim identification experts, and members of the Operations Development and Disruption Unit. These interactions provided valuable insights into how Australia combats online child exploitation and highlighted the importance of international cooperation in these efforts.
The delegation also engaged with members of QLD JACET to understand the critical role of peer-to-peer databases in tracking and disrupting the spread of child abuse material in the region.
AFP Commander Helen Schneider emphasised the significance of global partnerships in addressing online child abuse. “Online child abuse is a borderless crime with offenders and victims in countries around the world. It is vital for the AFP to collaborate with international partners to tackle this issue,” she said.
“The AFP-led ACCCE is a centre of excellence, bringing together specialist expertise from across the globe. Any assistance or knowledge we can share with partners like the SLP enhances the safety of children not just in Sri Lanka but also in Australia and globally.”
SLP Deputy Inspector General Renuka Jayasundara described the visit as invaluable, offering a broad exposure to global strategies for combatting child exploitation. “The experience has underscored the importance of collaboration among key stakeholders. As police, we cannot do it alone. Observing the work of JACET in an operational setting has provided us with critical insights to further develop our capabilities in protecting children,” she said.
AFP Senior Officer for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Matthew Innes, highlighted the visit as a testament to the strong relationship between the AFP and the SLP. “Our involvement with the development of the Women and Children’s Command is a reflection of the ongoing and productive partnership we have with the SLP,” he said.
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