Sabah NGOs join in call to protect children
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah nongovernmental organisations have joined in the call on the Deputy Prime Minister to meet with child rights NGOs to address critical child protection issues in light of viral reports of an 11-year-old Thai girl being married to a 41year-old Malaysian man.
The Child Rights CSO Group (CSCG), representing the group of NGOs, pointed out that the situation is totally unacceptable and against the basic principles of the CRC to which Malaysia is a signatory.
As a State party, CSCG stressed that Malaysia has to take all effective and appropriate measures to abolish traditional practices prejudicial to the health of children.
“We ask the Pakatan Harapan government to urgently do a complete review of the child development and protection support systems which has more often than not failed our children. We urge the government to work with and listen to NGOs as we exist to complement and support the government to address serious gaps in the implementation of policies and laws for the protection of our children, both citizens and non citizens,” said CSCG in a statement yesterday.
According to the group, child marriage is totally unacceptable anywhere in the world. No exceptions. It is not in the best interests of a child whose rights to health, education and protection are likely to be jeopardised as the child's focus shifts from completing school to domestic duties and parenthood.
“We ask that the government take immediate action to ban child marriage by setting the legal minimum age for marriage at 18 and to fulfill what was promised in the PH manifesto on this issue.”
The Child Rights CSO Group is ready and willing to work with the government to address and improve the issue of child rights and protection in Malaysia .
“Together we can do much more for our children , the future generation and leaders of our nation,” it said.
The petition to the government is endorsed by Childline Malaysia, Women's Aid Organisation (WAO),Association of Women Lawyers, Yayasan Chow Kit, ARAM Foundation, Malaysian Advocates for Child Health, PUAK Payung, Educational, Welfare & Research Foundation, Geutanyoe Foundation, Projek Layang Layang, Federation of Reproductive Health Associations Malaysia, Malaysian Child Welfare Council, Reproductive Health Association Kelantan, Challenges Foundation, National Early Intervention Council, Refuge for the Refugees, SAWO Sabah, NGOHub, Liga Pemuda, Buku Jalanan Chow Kit, Persatuan Sekolah Belantara Malaysia, Majlis Kebangsaan Pertubuhan Wanita, Malaysian Association of Social Workers, Malaysian Rare Disease Disorders Society, Association of Toy Libraries Malaysia, Malaysian Child Resource Institute, Voice of the Children, Women' s Centre for Change, PACOS Trust, Pasukan Pelindung WP, Persatuan Pengasuh Berdaftar Malaysia and Persatuan Pelindung Daerah Petaling.