PUTRAJAYA – The National Reproductive Health Education and Social (Pekerti) Policy and Action Plan 2022-2025 launched today is an improvement from the 2009-2012 version, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun.
She said Pekerti 2022-2025 contained five cores, 11 strategies and 26 activities related to reproductive and social health compared to four cores, six strategies and 15 activities in Pekerti 2009-2012.
On April 27, the cabinet approved Pekerti 2022-2025 to replace Pekerti 2009-2012 by taking into account religious diversity, age group, culture, gender and life values of the Keluarga Malaysia, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals 2023 target namely gender equality, and women and girls empowerment.
“There are several improvements compared to the earlier policy. Pekerti 2022-2025 touches on reproductive and social health education that applies to all levels of society,” Rina told a press conference after launching Pekerti 2022-2025 here today.
Rina said the development and evaluation of Pekerti policy 2022-2025 would be monitored by the Advisory and Coordinating Committee for Reproductive Health (ACCRH) headed by the National Population and Family Development Board.
“ACCRH will report on the implementation, issues, challenges and proposals for improvement to the ministry for each of the programmes or actions taken,” she said.
Commenting on the issue of sexual crimes against children, Rina said everyone must join hands by giving suggestions to the ministry on the best measures to deal with the immoral behavior.
“We welcome any suggestions and are open to collaboration with various parties,” she said adding that the ministry was collaborating with Bukit Aman Sexual, Women and Children Investigation Division, CyberSecurity Malaysia and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in dealing with these issues and concerns.
In the meantime, Rina said the Department of Social Welfare held a meeting with teenage actress Puteri Balqis Azizi last Monday to obtain more information regarding the alleged sexual abuse by her father since she was five years old.
It was reported that her father was arrested last Tuesday over allegations of sexual assault, possession of obscene materials and neglect.
The case is being investigated under Section 354 of the Penal Code for outrage of modesty, Section 31 (1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for child neglect and Section 292 of the Penal Code for possession of obscene materials. – Bernama, September 8, 2022
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