Make it easier for children to report sexual abuse, says Suhakam

 Children’s commissioner Adib Samuri says schools should not rely solely on annual health screenings to detect violations against them.

Suhakam has called for the provision of trusted channels to enable students to report sexual abuse, pointing out that they are more likely to disclose such violations in a safe environment. (Freepik pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Schools should provide trusted channels for children to report sexual abuse, rather than relying solely on annual health checks to detect such violations, says the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).

Its children’s commissioner, Adib Samuri, said every school should have a trained officer whom pupils recognise, trust and feel safe approaching.

He said schools must also provide an independent reporting channel outside the institution, as an alleged abuser may sometimes be a teacher, staff member or someone connected to the school.

“Children disclose abuse when they feel safe and believe something will be done. We need to build that trust every day rather than wait for an annual health screening,” Adib told FMT.

Adib also stressed the need for regular, private check-ins with vulnerable groups, particularly children in boarding schools and those with disabilities.

His call follows the recent discovery of two long-term sexual abuse cases in Johor during routine school health screenings by health ministry teams.

While Adib supports expanding school health screenings nationwide, he said such procedures must be carried out privately, without fear, stigma or judgment.

He said the Johor cases showed that school health teams can serve as an important safety net, especially when the alleged abuser is someone close to the child. However, he added that any wider rollout must include improvements to how screenings are conducted.

Adib noted that Section 29A of the Child Act 2001 allows voluntary reporting by school staff, while Section 27 makes reporting mandatory for medical officers.

He said the government should review whether a clear mandatory duty should also apply to selected professionals who work closely with children, including teachers, nurses and counsellors.

However, he said reporting should be required only when there are reasonable grounds for suspicion, with legal protection for those who report in good faith. Liability, he added, should focus on deliberate or serious failure to act despite clear warning signs.

“The focus should be on protecting children, not creating fear among staff that could lead to unnecessary or careless reports,” he said.

Adib was also critical of the handover process between schools, the health ministry, the social welfare department and the police, describing it as fragmented.

“The child should not be sent from one agency to another while the adults debate who is responsible. Once abuse is suspected, the report, immediate safety assessment, medical care, police investigation and psychosocial support should move together,” he said.

Adib also called for practical body-safety education to be permanently incorporated into the national school curriculum, so children can learn about personal boundaries and how to seek help.

“We must remember that adults remain responsible for preventing abuse and creating a safe environment,” he added. - FMT