Suhakam moots inter-agency committee to protect children

 

Suhakam children’s commissioner Farah Nini Dusuki said efforts to manage issues surrounding children’s rights were disjointed due to overlapping services by different agencies.

PETALING JAYA: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has proposed the setting up of an inter-agency committee to identify gaps, pool resources, and coordinate responses for the protection of children.

In a statement, its children’s commissioner Farah Nini Dusuki said the committee should comprise both government sectors and civil society organisations.

“Given the respective democratic functions held by public and private entities, a dialogical platform is needed to review and consolidate prioritised action for a systemic operational response,” she said.

Ads by Kiosked

Farah said while Malaysia had made significant legislative achievements in protecting children’s rights, efforts to manage their issues were disjointed due to overlapping services provided by different government agencies.

-ADVERTISEMENT-

Ads by 

“Despite the protective mechanisms being well-placed within the statutory framework, the system requires an overhaul to enhance the effectiveness of the overall responses.”

She added that the gap between advancing legislative reform and meaningful implementation undermined efforts to produce well-drafted legislation.

Farah acknowledged that public service personnel carried out important work, but said that existing protection services for children fall short of the intended protection under the Child Act 2001 (Act 611).

“Public administrative duties and protecting children’s rights are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, respect for children’s rights is essential to run the state sustainably and progressively.

“The exercise of governmental duty, as prescribed by the governing Act, must be read in harmony with Act 611 and given full effect for all matters concerning children,” she said.

Ads by Kiosked

Farah said the state’s primary obligation was to disseminate knowledge and promote awareness of the principles and spirit of Act 611.

“However, the trickle-down effect for awareness-raising is currently insufficient.

“To make the next stride, an intersectional and solution-based approach to identify and remove any impediments to progressive efforts in promoting and protecting children’s rights is necessary,” she said.

Her comments followed the recent High Court ruling by Justice Noorin Badaruddin, who acknowledged that under the Child Act 2001, all children, including non-citizen children, are protected and covered under the Act. - FMT