IPOH: Village committees nationwide will be roped in as Child Protection Teams under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
This proposal would enable the Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) and the Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKP) to play a broader role in providing information related to child abuse and neglect in rural areas.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said the ministry would collaborate with its Rural and Regional Development counterpart to ensure that the objective could be realised.
"This matter is still under discussion, but is at the final stage before implementation. However, we have a Community-Based Organisation (CBO) programme that directly involves all village heads and penghulu," she said.
Noraini said this after launching the Child Protection Advocacy Program: Kasih Kanak-Kanak at SK Seri Kelebang in Chemor here today.
Meanwhile, Noraini said that from January to May, a total of 3,957 children in the country required care and protection, including 288 in Perak.
She said that 383 permanent child protection and welfare officers, along with 280 contract officers, had been assigned to all welfare offices nationwide to assist these children.
Noraini said that the advocacy programme was an effort by the ministry in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department to provide exposure and knowledge to children and the community on appropriate advocacy methods for child-related cases.
She added that up to last month, 98 schools with 33,250 participants had been involved in this advocacy programme.
In related developments, Noraini said that her department would promptly investigate any complaints regarding actions by parties accused of exploiting children.
"We have not received any complaints yet, but if there are any reports, we will take appropriate action according to the relevant laws and regulations under the ministry.
"Any issues related to the ministry, under the appropriate Act, will be addressed. We will review each case individually, regardless of the type of case," she said.