CHILD PROTECTION POLICY REQUIRED FOR WELFARE INSTITUTIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- All children's institutions under the
Social Welfare Department and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which
receive grants from the government are required to create their own child
protection policy.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul
Jalil said the policy needed to follow a template such as that for the National
Child Protection Policy (NCPP).

"Among others, the template focuses on the behaviour protocol of institution
staff, employee recruitment and screening as well as procedures on managing
abuse claims," she told a news conference on the NCPP and the National Child
Policy (NCP) here Tuesday.

She said this was important to prevent incidents of shelter home personnel
abusing, exploiting and raping the children.

Shahrizat said these were immediate actions to be taken by the ministry
after the Cabinet approved the two policies and their action plans on July 29.

She said other measures to be taken were to establish a child helpline to
allow the public to make reports to the protection or safety authorities on any
form of abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation of children.

"For the time being, any complaints on child abuse can be made to Talian Nur
at 15999. The ministry is cooperating with the NGOs to create a child helpline
soon," she said.

Shahrizat said the ministry would also continue discussions with various
government agencies, especially enforcement agencies such as the police and
Immigration, to refine the development of the alert system, which is an early
warning system on missing or kidnapped children.

"This includes integrated action to be observed by agencies in missing child
cases," she said.

Shahrizat said both policies would become a guide to various parties such as
government agencies, NGOs, academicians, volunteers and the public to unite
efforts in protecting children who are important assets of a country.

She said the policies consisted of action plans which served as
more detailed guidelines, including on the duration and target outcome to
facilitate implementation.

"Both policies and action plans were drafted using input and negotiations
from various parties, including government agencies, NGOs, medical specialists,
social workers, volunteers and individuals who specialise on children," she
said.

Shahrizat said the drafting of the two policies was timely to protect, shape
and develop children into good citizens.

The NCPP is a policy which ensures that each child in the country is
protected from neglect, abuse, violence, and exploitation while the NCP is a
policy on survival rights, protection, development and child participation so
that children can enjoy opportunities for holistic development in a conducive
environment.

-- BERNAMA