PETALING JAYA – The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has called for the government’s proposed Children’s Commission Bill to be aligned with international best practices in human rights standards to help foster a child-centric nation.
The move will also be in line with the Madani framework of good governance and will ensure “sustainable and effective actions on the ground” for child protection, the NGO stressed in a media statement today.
The bill is a “visionary initiative” that would add a dynamic dimension to the Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC), it added.
This unit was set up in 2019 within Suhakam.
‘‘OCC is not sufficient to address the plethora of issues related to children rights, given its limited capacity and resources,” it stated.
A full-fledged commission, with ample funding and committed professionals, will bridge government and society, as well as adults and children.
The entity can also complement the work of other government agencies, based on an independent mandate.
“It should be given the power to advocate for policy changes across enforcement agencies and local authorities, and the ability to demand remedial actions.”
The commission can also play a role in the formulation of child-centric national policies, it added.
Suhakam also voiced its willingness to help set up the commission that would serve as a “beacon of progress” for children’s rights. – The Vibes, September 2, 2023
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