"Lack of power is a universal and basic characteristic of poverty. Poverty is not solely a lack of income, but rather is characterised by a vicious cycle of powerlessness, stigmatisation, discrimination, exclusion, and material deprivation, which all mutually reinforce each other.
"Empowerment happens when individuals and organised groups are able to imagine their world differently and to realise that vision by changing the relations of power that have kept them in poverty, restricted their voice, and deprived them of their autonomy.”
- Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona (2013)
COMMENT | On Wednesday, I had the privilege of speaking at the Hasanah Forum on the role of CSOs and NGOs in providing community-based and community-led approaches to tackling child rights and child protection to some of the poorest, marginalised children in Malaysia.
I was then asked to comment on the role of government, special interest groups, institutions, and society in addressing the same issues. It was supposed to be two or three paragraphs - I wrote a page. I have a lot to say!
The poorest communities in almost any region tend to be the minority and marginalised communities, who have been rendered invisible or their needs, at best, negated or rendered to just fighting for basic needs.
This is because they and their communities have been targets of long-standing discrimination, exclusion and sometimes violence.
Child poverty within marginalised communities must be viewed as both a cause and a manifestation of the diminished rights, opportunities, and social advancement available to other children in Malaysia.
The government, CSOs, special interest groups and institutions, and society at large, all have a role to play in ensuring no one gets left behind and everyone contributes to society and everyone prospers.
The dire situation of so many marginalised children is often exacerbated by numerous and complex factors. Discrimination and inequality circumscribe every aspect of their life opportunities.
They are often denied equal access to quality education. Racist/xenophobic notions, deliberately spread far and wide, limit their access to education, health, and job employment possibilities to the most low-waged and precarious options.
Importance of education
Without a quality education, which is inclusive and equitable, children are at greater risk of poverty, stigmatization, and violence.
For children who are marginalised, access to quality education can mean the difference between a lifetime of exclusion or becoming an active member of society.
It opens up the opportunity of fair and equal access to decent jobs, living wages, and sustainable and healthy livelihoods. The same with health. In fact, if you‘re sick or hungry, or both, you can’t even go to school.
I can say the same in almost every social protection pillars affecting children.
When the rights of children are violated, recourse to institutions of justice is often a distant possibility. Are we interested in providing justice for all children in Malaysia? I sadly say no, not right now but we can change things.
Just please listen to children and put yourselves in their shoes. We hardly ever ask children what happens when they are excluded.
We hardly want to see or are desensitised to the horror of the repercussions and impact of having no food, no school, no access to health or mental health services, being separated from family, thrown in detention, no shelter, or no access to clean water. Please take notice!
Children are a minority group needing protection of rights
To address the rights of all children in Malaysia and to offer the same kinds of access to programmes and services require holistic and sustained approaches that recognise their rights as individuals and distinct minority communities.
Such approaches must start from an understanding of the impact of discrimination on minority groups and effective methods to achieve equality.
Why is wanting equality and being treated fairly such a horrible notion in this country? We’re talking about children here - the ones we’re supposed to invest in?
There must be a recognition that the human development of every sector of society benefits all and promotes prosperity and stability for all.
Unfortunately, it starts with the government and policymakers. And the politics - please, let’s not let politics rule the day when it comes to protecting and nurturing all children in Malaysia.
The government needs to understand that protecting all children in Malaysia empowers everyone in Malaysia - it benefits all living in Malaysia!
Educating children in Malaysia empowers them and ensures economic growth. We can point to research that demonstrates allowing education for refugees, migrants, stateless children, and youth reduces poverty, instills dignity, and provides a track for upward social mobility.
Pro-children policies
There are more pros than cons in educating children or allowing them access to health services and basic protection services.
The government’s main role should be to deliver inclusive, pro-poor growth and set more inclusive, long-term, far-sighted visions of a better Malaysia for all children.
The role of institutions is to implement what policymakers come up with and abide by the rule of law regarding the protection and provision of services of children. Not ‘pick and choose’ or discriminate against some children.
The Child Act and the international treaties and UN conventions protecting the rights of all children must supersede any other national law and policy infringing on the rights of any child in Malaysia. Pick the best interest of the child any time.
The role of any special interest group or corporates is to serve the communities they lobby for or are invested in to ensure no one gets left behind.
To enforce the inclusion of all, find ways to ensure resources are shared among all children they identify and service. Find ways to lend their voices and speak up when policies discriminate or exclude children.
The people and society must hold government, lobbyists, corporates, CSOs, and NGOs accountable at all times.
They must amplify the voices of marginalised children, educate themselves, the government, and special interest groups to do better by all children, as well as support those who speak up and try to implement change.
You do not lose anything by sharing and helping others. Never. We only grow stronger and richer when we share, let alone invest in the welfare and protection of all children. - Mkini
HARTINI ZAINUDIN is founder of Yayasan Chow Kit, a 24-hour crisis centre for children.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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