Panel plans roadmap to improve justice system for kids

 

Azalina Othman Said said the parliamentary committee’s visit to London was to learn about victim support services, inter-agency cooperation, legal reforms and child safeguarding policies.

KUALA LUMPUR: The parliamentary special select committee (PSSC) on women and children affairs and social development will deliver a comprehensive set of recommendations or roadmap on child victims and witnesses in the justice system.

Its chairman, Azalina Othman Said, said these recommendations are a result of the committee’s meetings and engagements during a four-day study tour of London.

The visit, which ended on Thursday, was with the aim of providing valuable insight to local government agencies.

Azalina, who is also the Pengerang MP, said the recommendations would emphasise the constructive role that agencies could play as well as the need to address the multi-agency policies and overlapping jurisdictions on the victim support system.

“We as lawmakers are only a part of the system. We need input and recommendations from all agencies.

“With their input, PSSC can coordinate and draw out a roadmap and make recommendations to enhance the system.

“The UK is good in supporting child victims and witnesses.

“It is not just about the conviction rates. When any incident happens to children, they know that the system is there to support them,” she said in a statement today.

The key objectives of the visit were to learn about the various victim support services, inter-agency cooperation, legal reforms, child safeguarding policies, as well as other child and victim-centric measures and initiatives.

While in London, the panel engaged with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the National Crime Agency, the Internet Watch Foundation, Victim Support UK, Old Bailey Central Criminal Courts, the Crown Prosecution Services, the Metropolitan Police in London and the Youth Justice Board.

The other MPs in the delegation included Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (Sik), Lau Kiong Yieng (Lanang), Hannah Yeoh (Segambut), Fahmi Fadzil (Lembah Pantai) and Fuziah Salleh (Kuantan).

Azalina said PSSC recognised the need to streamline existing Malaysian laws and have clarity on the definitions used in interpreting laws where children are concerned, as conflicting legislation might result in inconsistent outcomes for victims and perpetrators.

PSSC intends to continue its inquiry into this issue and expand its stakeholder engagement with other relevant institutions and agencies, including the Bar Council, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the statistics department and other key stakeholders.

The delegation also explored reforms in relation to improving the child victims’ and witnesses’ experience in the criminal justice process, good practices concerning working with children in conflict with the law, and preventing offences through various measures, including community-based intervention.

“This is a very important matter. We can make improvements to our system, including the legislative, executive and judiciary functions.

“PSSC wishes to extend its recommendations to all the relevant ministries,” said Fahmi. - FMT