KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 — The establishment of the Children’s Commission as an independent statutory body is a positive step towards preserving children’s dignity, according to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).
Suhakam chairman Prof Datuk Dr Rahmat Mohamad said this was in line with the principles of ‘Malaysia Madani’ as highlighted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the establishment was also a step in the right direction with Malaysia’s position as a State party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) that is responsible to preserve the safety and well-being of children.
“Suhakam hopes that the newly established commission will be able to deal with issues related to children, including aspects of survival, protection, development and participation,” he said in a statement yesterday.
The commission must have broad jurisdiction and a clear mandate with an adequate allocation as well as human resources to carry out the responsibilities to ensure the protection of children’s best interests, he added.
— Bernama
