Buck up on child care, protection policies to avoid abuse, exploitation of children - Experts

SHAH ALAM - Safeguarding the vulnerable group, particularly children, who are at risk of abuse and exploitation is crucial.

Child activist and Yayasan Chow Kit co-founder Dr Hartini Zainudin said it was important to highlight the importance of protecting such groups.

Citing the recent abuse case of a Down Syndrome teenage girl known as Bella, she said non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should prioritise safeguarding measures to protect children.

The case, she said was a reminder that abuses against children could happen in any context, including within an NGO and community organisations.

She said it was essential to have robust policies and procedures in place to prevent abuse and have the ability to respond to incidents of abuse effectively.

"The lesson to be learned from this case is that NGOs should prioritise safeguarding measures to protect the people they serve, particularly children.

"This includes conducting thorough background checks on individuals involved in running the NGO, developing and implementing clear child protection policies and procedures as well as providing regular training and support to staff and volunteers on how to recognise and report abuse," she told Sinar Daily.

Hartini said it was also important to ensure that there were effective systems in place for reporting and investigating any incidents of abuse or misconduct.

She urged NGOs to have thorough and comprehensive policies to avoid abuse against children.

"To avoid abuse, other NGOs should have thorough and comprehensive policies and procedures in place that outline their approach to safeguarding vulnerable groups and protecting them from abuse and exploitation.

"This should include risk assessments to identify potential areas of risk, recruitment processes that include background checks and vetting of staff and volunteers.

"Also a clear guidance and codes of conduct for staff and volunteers, and regular training," she said when contacted.

In order to have a check and balance in avoiding abuse, Hartini said NGOs should create an independent safeguarding committee consisting of experts in child protection, with experience in advocacy and children's rights.

The committee, she said should be responsible in overseeing the implementation of the organisation’s safeguarding policies, ensuring that incidents were being reported, and appropriate action was taken.

"The committee should also work closely with external organisations and statutory authorities to ensure cases of abuse are handled appropriately," she added.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) Commissioner Professor Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal urged the public to lodge complaints to the social welfare department (JKM) if there were any reasonable suspicion of abuse.

She said the public could also call Talian Kasih at 15999 to lodge complaints.

Aziah said JKM officers must be specially trained in dealing with such cases since most children's homes fall under the department's purview.

"Most of the private children's homes are registered with JKM and therefore monitored by the department.

"JKM is in charge of all children's homes, children centres, kintergardens and they all are under JKM's purview," she said.

On Wednesday, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court sentenced Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali to 12 years jail after she was found guilty of neglecting and abusing Bella.

Judge Izralizam Sanusi ordered her to serve her sentences immediately at the Kajang Prison after rejecting her application for a stay of execution pending appeal.

In his decision, Izralizam said the 31-year old accused had failed to raise any reasonable doubt in the case.

Siti Bainun was sentenced 10 years in prison for the offence of neglecting the girl, and 12 years in prison for the second charge of abusing her.

However, the court ordered her to serve the sentences concurrently.

The charges were framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 which carries a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment or a fine of RM50,000 or both if convicted.