More policy development needed for children’s welfare in Malaysia

Jamaiudin, Norhaslinda (2024) More policy development needed for children’s welfare in Malaysia. Stratsea.

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Abstract

The recent child exploitation scandal involving local conglomerate Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) has brought to the forefront the issue of children’s rights and protection in Malaysia. Children are frequently thought to be passive “social actors”, but this does not mean that they do not have rights. Malaysia, children’s rights are safeguarded and secured under the framework outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC), which encompasses four key aspects: child protection, child development, child participation and child survival. This means that children’s access to food, housing, education and health are among the primary indicators for measuring children’s rights. A child is considered to be deprived of their rights if these basic needs are unmet. In Malaysia, the ratification of CRC in 1989 led to many positive policy developments for the realization of children’s rights. Within this framework, children’s rights to grow, develop and pursue the opportunities granted by life are secured and protected through many significantly impactful legal measures. These include the Child Act of 2001, the Sexual Offences against Children Act of 2017 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act of 2007. However, this recent scandal has stirred a public outrage and questioned the viability of these legal measures in promoting children’s constitutional rights. It must serve as a “wake-up” call to several parties and stakeholders about how readily children can become targets of exploitation.

Item Type:	Article (Electronic Media)
Additional Information:	5106/114927
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Children's Welfare, Children's Well-being, Child Poverty
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) > H96 Public policy (General), Policy sciences
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Political Science Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences
Depositing User:	Dr. Norhaslinda Jamaiudin
Date Deposited:	09 Oct 2024 14:15
Last Modified:	10 Oct 2024 15:55
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/114927

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