Kota Kinabalu: Protecting children is a shared responsibility that requires the collective commitment of families, schools, communities, government agencies and the private sector, said Assistant Women, Health and People’s Well-being Minister Datuk Rina Jainal.
She said no single organisation could safeguard children on its own, stressing that stronger collaboration was essential to ensure every child in Sabah grows up in a safe, nurturing and protective environment.
Rina said this when officiating the inaugural Sabah Child Safeguarding Conference 2026 themed “Building Communities That Protect” at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) on Saturday.
She also launched two publications, Child Safeguarding: What Every Parent Should Know and This Is Me. Every Child Matters, aimed at raising awareness of child safeguarding among parents, caregivers and the wider community.
“Children are not only the leaders of tomorrow but also rights holders today, entitled to live safely and with dignity, free from violence, exploitation, neglect and discrimination,” she said.
Rina said Sabah has about 1.06 million children out of a population of 3.4 million, meaning nearly one-third of the State’s population will shape Sabah’s and the nation’s future.
“The well-being of children today shapes the well-being of Sabah tomorrow,” she said.
She said findings from the Sabah Child Well-being Index highlighted the need to view children’s welfare holistically by considering their safety, health, education, protection and meaningful participation.
Quoting Department of Statistics Malaysia figures, Rina said Sabah recorded 1,181 children in need of care and protection in 2024, the second-highest number in the country after Selangor.
She said the figure underscored the need for more strategic and proactive efforts to strengthen the State’s child protection system.
Rina said the State Government remains committed to making child protection part of the Sabah Maju Jaya development agenda.
“Development should not be measured solely by economic growth but also by society’s ability to protect vulnerable groups,” Rina added.
She said Sabah also faces challenges including poverty, geographical barriers, online safety, cyberbullying, digital exploitation, mental health issues, and documentation and citizenship matters affecting children.
Referring to undocumented children, particularly in Tawau, she said documentation issues remain serious and stressed that such children should not be forgotten because they are part of Sabah’s community.
“No child should be left behind in protection, education and opportunities to develop, regardless of their background,” she said.
Earlier, Child Safeguarding Initiative (CSI) President Sonia Chin said the conference was organised to strengthen dialogue, collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders involved in child protection.
“The conference brought together representatives from government agencies, the judiciary, law enforcement bodies, educational institutions, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, faith-based institutions, the private sector and community leaders,” she said.
Sonia said the Child Safeguarding Initiative Coalition, established in 2023 by five organisations, works to promote child safeguarding policies, standards and best practices while strengthening awareness, education, training and advocacy.
“We firmly believe that safeguarding is not just a policy to be implemented, but it is a culture that must be embraced by everyone,” she said.
She said the conference aimed to encourage greater public understanding of child safeguarding and develop practical recommendations to strengthen child protection efforts in Sabah.
Throughout the conference, participants discussed child protection laws, reporting systems for abuse and neglect, advocacy for children’s rights, online safety, cyberbullying, digital exploitation, mental health, poverty and access to essential services for vulnerable children.
The conference concluded with a joint call for stronger cross-sector collaboration, greater emphasis on preventive child safeguarding measures and ensuring the best interests of children are prioritised in every policy, programme and decision affecting their lives.
Sonia urged participants to leave the conference with renewed commitment and stronger partnerships.
She expressed hope that it would be remembered not only for the discussions held but also for the actions taken to build safer communities for every child in Sabah.
