10-fold rise in Sabah sexual abuse cases against kids
Published on: Sunday, October 01, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Statistics obtained by the Sabah Social Welfare Department showed a more than 10-fold increase in the number of sexual abuse cases against children in the State between 2014 and last year.State Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad said a total of 186 cases were reported last year compared to only 14 in 2014.She said her Ministry viewed seriously the matter, especially with about 50 per cent of the cases involving physical sexual abuse and another 30 per cent incest, with the victims aged below 18 years and the youngest aged three years.ADVERTISEMENT As such, she called for cooperation from all quarters to report to the authorities should they know of children being sexually abused, even if it involved their own family members. "There is better awareness among the people in Sabah on the importance of reporting the matter to the authorities," she said. She told reporters this after the launch of the Welfare Month and a forum on "Stop Sexual Crime Against Children" by the Chairman of the Welfare Association of Wives of Sabah Elected Representatives (Bakisa), Puan Sri Faridah Tussin, who is also Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman's wife.One of the factors behind the increase, said Jainab, was the awareness and training programmes organised by the Government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), resulting in the community no longer tolerant on such crimes.ADVERTISEMENT "Cooperation from voluntary and non-governmental organisations is needed to assist and protect victims of child sexual abuse," she added.She said the Child Act 2001 (Amendment) 2016 and Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 were formulated to protect and curb sexual crimes against children.
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"It is also part of the Government's efforts to ratify the Convention on Children's Rights signed in Dec 28 1994," she said.Jainab said the State Social Services Council, together with Bakisa, Welfare Department and NGOs, will conduct roadshows on the two Acts in Sandakan, Keningau, Beaufort, Kudat and Tawau.With the roadshows, she hoped the community will become more aware and understand the laws enacted by the Government to protect children.In a related development, Jainab hoped the setting up of a special court to handle cases involving sexual crimes against children in Sabah could be expedited.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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This followed a statement by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said last Thursday that the special court on sexual crime against children would be set up in all states in stages, with the first phase in Sarawak, Selangor and Johor.The second phase covers Kedah and Perlis, Kelantan and Pahang; Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka (third phase) and Sabah, Perak and Terengganu, under the fourth phase. - Jo Ann Mool