STATEMENT BY
H.E. DR. AHMAD FAISAL MUHAMAD
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE 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 79TH UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 10 OCTOBER 2024
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,
- Malaysia recognises that the well-being of our children is a fundamental pillar of sustainable development. Our commitment to this cause is evident in our policies, programs, and collaborative efforts with various stakeholders in which significant strides have been made in areas such as education, healthcare, and protection from violence and exploitation.
- 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. Primarily, the Convention is operationalised domestically through the Child Act 2001 which guides the Government’s efforts and measures aimed at providing care, protection, and rehabilitation for children, free from discrimination based on race, color, sex, language, religion, social origin, or any physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
Mr. Chair,
- In line with Malaysia’s continuous commitment to protecting the rights of children as set out in the CRC, the Government of Malaysia has appointed a Children’s Commissioner within the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) in March 2023. The Office of the Children’s Commissioner plays a pivotal role in monitoring the duties and responsibilities of Government agencies regarding children’s issues and provides essential feedback for improvement to ensure the existence of checks and balances in the implementation of children's rights by the Government.
- Malaysia continues to strengthen social protection measures, particularly the healthcare system for children. Our robust healthcare system offers inclusive universal healthcare whereby about 98 per cent of the cost of care is subsidised by the government through its public facilities. This has afforded Malaysian children to have access to essential health services. For instance, the Malaysian National Immunisation Programme (NIP) ensures that every baby born in the country will have access to vaccinations to prevent several infectious, life-threatening childhood diseases.
- Recognising the urgency to institutionalise change from within the society in ending child marriage, the Government launched the National Strategy Plan in Addressing the Causes of Child Marriage 2020-2025. While the Plan has contributed to the reduction of child marriage cases, the Government is also undertaking a mid-term review of the Plan to assess the gaps of the current strategies and programmes.
- The importance of family for children's well-being is profound, as it provides the emotional support, safety, and stability essential for their healthy development. In this context, the National Family Policy (NFP) underscores Malaysia’s commitment to family well-being through care, justice, and equality. It promotes a family perspective in governance, ensuring inclusive and effective laws and services.
Mr. Chair,
- Malaysia is concerned about the violation and harassment faced by children from cyberbullying as this caused disruption to children’s development and growth. As an effort to counter the rampant increase of cyberbullying cases, Malaysia is drafting a specific law on cyberbullying to ensure the adequacy of legal perspective to penalise the cyberbullying offender. Earlier in April this year, Malaysia amended the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 to ensure children are better protected against all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse online.
- In conclusion, we must protect and invest in the wellbeing of our children today, to ensure a bright future for our world. The participation and advancement of the present generation should usher in a future generation that would ensure a country’s survival, growth and prosperity. Malaysia thus reaffirms our unwavering commitment to safeguarding and promoting the rights of its children.
I thank you.
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