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STATEMENT BY

MR. RIZZAL DOLAH

DELEGATE TO THE 78TH SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS   

 

DURING THE GENERAL DISCUSSION ON 

AGENDA ITEM 67: PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN  

 

THIRD COMMITTEE OF THE 78TH UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY  

 

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 5 OCTOBER 2023  

 

 

Thank you, Mr. Chair.  

 

Malaysia aligns itself with the statement delivered by Indonesia on behalf of ASEAN and adds the following remarks in our national capacity.  

 

Mr. Chair,  

 

2.     Children are the future of any nation. They will grow up to be leaders of tomorrow and make choices that will chart the course of our world. Therefore, we bear the responsibility to nurture them to be holistic individuals by ensuring their physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual growth. Malaysia is strongly committed to promoting and safeguarding the rights and well-being of children, including in situations of armed conflict.  

 

3.     As a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Malaysia has put in place a robust domestic legal framework for the protection and promotion of children’s rights through the Child Act 2001 and numerous other legislations related to the protection of children. The Government is committed in ensuring that the protection, development, and participation of children is in line with Malaysia's obligations to the Convention.  

 

Mr. Chair,  

 

4.     Malaysia has also introduced a new National Child Policy and Plan of Action to address gaps in support systems that might result in harm to children, especially concerning juvenile justice, bullying, mental health, child exploitation, child marriage, climate change, and protection of children online. The new Policy is designed to be in alignment with recent legislative reforms concerning children as well as to be coherent with other domestic policies in the context of the protection of children online.  

 

5.     The establishment of the Department of Child Development on 1 September 2023 is another recent initiative of the Government to provide comprehensive support to children. This department is tasked with enhancing children's well-being through prevention, development, protection, rehabilitation, and integration into society.  

 

6.     In addition, Malaysia also introduced the concept of family-based care to ensure that children in need of protection and rehabilitation are housed with their parents or family members as much as possible so that they continue to be nurtured in a family environment. Placement in welfare institutions is strictly a measure of last resort.  

 

Mr. Chair,  

 

7.     Malaysia’s approach to the protection of children also includes those that are in conflict with the law. The Government has introduced a new approach called The Diversion Programme, which essentially promotes a social welfare response, rather than a criminal justice response, to low-risk children who commit non-serious offences. The Programme draws from the experience of the international community, which found that diversion of low-risk child offenders has proven to be more cost-effective and successful at reducing re-offending as opposed to treating them like adult offenders. The Programme comprises three (3) forms of diversion, namely police warning, stern warning and referral to the Social Welfare Department for a Diversion Intervention Programme, which focuses on counselling, rehabilitation and community service. 

 

8.     In conclusion, Malaysia is committed to strengthening services for children in need of protection in the country, and in giving children the choice to live the life they desire and deserve. To this end, Malaysia will continue to undertake efforts in fulfilling obligations under the CRC to ensure that no child is left behind.   

 

I thank you.