SHAH ALAM - Amidst concerning increase in child sexual abuse cases in Malaysia, Universiti Malaya Senior Lecturer and Criminologist Dr Haezreena Begum states that the uphill trend shines light on the current deficiencies in child protection and calls for a re-evaluation of the child protection laws.
Acknowledging the complex nature of the surge in crime rates, Haezreena cited the possibility of escalating cost of living and associated stress as possible contributors.
However, she also emphasised that no economic or societal challenge justified the commission of a crime.
"While I cannot pinpoint a single cause, this increase can possibly be attributed to the rising cost of living and the associated stress.
"However, committing a crime is not justified by these factors," Haezreena said.
She highlighted a crucial point often overlooked when examining crime statistics— the fact that reported cases merely scratched the surface.
Haezreena emphasised the importance of recognising the limitations of reported figures in capturing the full extent of the issue.
As per a report released by the Statistics Department (DOSM), there has been an increase in sexual crimes involving children from 2021 to 2022.
Notably, among the reported offenses, rape exhibited the most significant surge, alongside incest cases, with both offences experiencing an almost 10 per cent spike.
"However, we may look at this surge in cases in a positive light.
"The surge in numbers may, in fact, indicate a positive trend of more victims coming forward and bravely reporting the crimes that have been committed upon them.”
In the past month, the nation has been shocked by some of the most heinous crimes involving young victims. On Nov 2, Sinar Harian reported the arrest of a 32-year-old man for raping his 14-year-old step-sister. In the same week, a 12-year-old girl was rescued alongside two other victims who were forced into sex slavery in Sabah.
Both of these incidents are not isolated cases and have been more frequently reported in the news. It is high time for the nation to look back into our child protection laws and the rights of children in the judicial and legal context.
In the context of child protection in Malaysia, Haezreena expressed concern about the insufficient rights and protections afforded to children.
Despite the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the establishment of laws, a lot still needed to be done in terms of upholding child rights and welfare in terms.
"Children in Malaysia lack sufficient protection as they do not have many rights. Although we have ratified the CRC, some of the rights are still not fully enforced in Malaysia,
"We also lack a dedicated ministry that functions to protect the wellbeing and welfare of children," she pointed out.
Haezreena also advocated for a shift toward restorative justice, emphasising the need for comprehensive approaches to address the root causes of criminal behaviour and promote rehabilitation.
"Despite the existence of legal frameworks with harsh penalties for crimes against children, people still harm them,
"The persistence of such offenses being committed underscores the importance of rehabilitation in our criminal justice system,
"This highlights the importance of rehabilitation, making the concept of restorative justice crucial in addressing this issue," she said.
With the state of current child protection frameworks, Haezreena acknowledged the ongoing efforts of activists dedicated to expanding the rights of children.
"The battle to establish more comprehensive protections for children remains at the forefront,
"Activists have been working tirelessly to address systemic gaps and ensure the well-being and safety of the younger generation,” she said.