STATEMENT BY
MR. AZRIL BIN ABD AZIZ
DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA
PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE SESSION WITH
MS. MIKIKO OTANI
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
7 OCTOBER 2021, NEW YORK
Thank you Mr Chair,
I would like to thank Ms. Mikiko Otani for her presentation and the Committee for the work undertaken in promoting and strengthening the rights of the Child.
2. Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to protect and promote the rights of children. As a State Party to the CRC, Malaysia has undertaken efforts in ensuring that the rights of the child are protected. Malaysia has also submitted its Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Periodic Report to the CRC Committee on 4 August 2021.
3. In Malaysia, the rights of children are protected and promoted by the Child Act 2001 and the Sexual Offences against Children Act 2017. This is further complemented with the adoption of National Policies and Plans of Action on Children and on Child Protection
4. Currently the Malaysian government is undertaking efforts of reviewing the Child Act 2001 through a multi-stakeholder consultative review that include partners in civil society, activists, academia, experts as well as the UNICEF office in Malaysia.
5. While the Child Act has undergone a number of revisions since it was first introduced, the current review will look to include modern trends, approaches, and new evidence in the field of child protection. This include placing greater importance and emphasis on prevention and early intervention services to children and their families, family strengthening, and focusing on prevention, diversion, and community-based programmes for children would be addressed in the review.
6. A comprehensive review of the Child Act will provide a more solid foundation for the Government’s programmes and services to prevent and respond to all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation of children, and to improve the rehabilitation and reintegration of children in alignment with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Mr Chair,
7. Malaysia will continue to promote rights of children and call on the international community strengthen international cooperation to advance the rights of the child.
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