No child should feel unsafe in schools, says Unicef

KUALA LUMPUR: No child should feel unsafe, especially in a place of learning, says Unicef, expressing deep concern over recent violent incidents in schools.

Unicef representative to Malaysia Robert Gass said they commend the swift response of the authorities and support for victims, survivors and families.

“We have consistently maintained that prevention must be at the heart of all efforts,” he said on Wednesday (Oct 15).

“We call for the design of violence prevention programmes, stronger support for parents and caregivers, effective reporting and response mechanisms, and safe schools and communities,” he added.

“The circulation of videos, images and children’s personal details on social media risks compounding trauma and violating their rights to privacy and protection,” he said.

“The mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of survivors, families, peers and educators must be prioritised,” he added.

Gass said Unicef calls for safety and confidentiality during investigations, responsible reporting and the creation of environments that prevent violence before it happens.

“Girls are disproportionately affected by violence,” he said.

“Globally, nearly one in three women and girls will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime,” he added.

He said this is driven by harmful gender and social norms that normalise abuse, shift blame from perpetrators and silence survivors.

“Such violence inflicts devastating, long lasting harm on children’s physical and mental wellbeing and erodes trust in protective institutions,” he said.

He said Unicef is ready to work with the Government, civil society, media and communities to strengthen prevention and response systems.

“These include those addressing gender based violence and online child sexual exploitation and abuse,” he added.

“Together, we must uphold the rights, dignity and protection of every child,” he said.