The updated National Children’s Policy was launched in November 2024, but we are still waiting to see the planned deliverables, namely the promised action plan to accompany this policy.
The National Children’s Policy focuses on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) key aspects of survival, protection, development, and participation, including aspects of health, education, safety, and welfare.
These are all vital areas in the lives of many children in Malaysia, especially those who need protection from abuse and harm, those living in poverty, children with disabilities, and those without access to health care, education, and an identity.
We understand that the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) has recently presented an idea of the action plan to relevant agencies and civil society organisations.
The plan focuses on merging programmes targeted at parents, the integration of capacity development, and advocacy and awareness programmes among various ministries.
KPWKM highlighted the four main objectives (survival, protection, development, and participation) and the 16 strategic priorities, and indicated that it will be monitored under the Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Kanak-Kanak (MKBKK) under the auspices of the Social Welfare Department (JKM).
Sadly, we are again left wondering what actions will be taken, when, and to what end. The presentation lacked any meaningful deliverables.
What mechanisms and resources will be used to achieve these strategic priorities? Which agencies will be involved and who will take responsibility for each strategic priority? What is the timeline to achieve each strategic priority?
It is important to look at the timelines for the development of our National Children’s Policy:
- 2009-2015: We have a National Children’s Policy and the National Children’s Action Plan, but there has not been any published evidence-based data on the effectiveness of the policy and plan. We are unaware whether an independent external audit was conducted and made public, or how the current National Child Policy is aligned with the Regional Plan of Actions to promote children’s rights and protection and meet the Sustainable Development Goals Malaysia is committed to. We also have a National Child Protection Policy and action plan for the time period with the same concerns.
- 2020: Planning to upgrade the National Children’s Policy and action plan involving relevant ministries and agencies.
- 2021-2022: Development of the National Children’s Policy.
- 2023: Final draft of policy was distributed to relevant ministries and agencies for feedback and approved by National Children’s Policy Development Steering Committee and Action Plan meeting.
- June 2024: Cabinet approval of the National Children’s Policy,
- November 2024: Revised National Children’s Policy launched (no action plan).
- April 2025: KPWKM presented an idea of the action plan to relevant agencies and civil society organisations (no detailed action plan).
It is of concern that after close to five years, we still do not have access to or a clear idea of the action plans, indicators, targets, and timelines that will be put in place to improve the lives of all our children.
Will targets meet the international standards, laws, and policies such as the UNCRC, CEDAW, and SDG, and improve the lives of our children?
While KPWKM has engaged civil society organisations (CSOs) and the private sector, their engagement with families and communities has been limited and not far-reaching, leaving many grassroots organisations that champion the rights and protection of children nationwide out of the ecosystem.
As the National Children’s Policy states on the last page: “Children’s rights are our shared responsibility.” It would be best if KPWKM share their existing or draft action plan they have online, and engage CSOs involved with children, professionals, and children to help strengthen the action plan’ for the next five years.
It would be ideal to make the action plan of the National Children’s Policy a living document with shared responsibilities among CSOs and the general public. A living or dynamic document can be continually updated and revised to ensure it remains current and relevant.
It would also allow for action plans to be implemented immediately and monitored collectively using an all-of-society-approach. It would encourage us to listen to children and decide their involvement in the plans and decisions that affect their lives.
We need to systematically ensure that diverse and marginalised children, including stateless children, refugee children, undocumented children, indigenous children, and children with disabilities participate in the formation of the action plan. We need to ensure that it is child-friendly, age, gender, and linguistically appropriate, and that disabled-friendly versions of the policy and action plan are made accessible for all children and young Malaysianes.
As a civil society, we would like to see targets and indicators that focus on:
- Halving the child poverty rate by 2030 for all children, regardless of their legal status, in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 1).
- Urgent institutional and policy reforms to implement a mandatory universal education access policy for all children regardless of their legal status (SDG 4).
- Enactment of legal provisions that guarantee all children living in Malaysia the right and access to health care, regardless of their legal status, in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (article 24), and Child Act 2001 (SDG 3).
- Reducing and ending all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation, and trafficking of children (SDG 16.2).
- Ending the stateless status of children in Malaysia by 2030 (SDG 16).
- Bridging the gaps in gender inequality (SDG 5).
- Ending child marriage by 2030 (SDG 5).
- Supporting and protecting the mental and psychosocial health of children and young people (SDG 3).
- Increasing budgetary allocations for children’s services that reflect current needs.
In addition, we require the formation of an independent child rights committee that monitors and evaluates the progress made by the National Children’s Policy and its action plan.
Currently, the National Children’s Policy is just a well-meaning concept on paper. We are long overdue in taking concerted action to change the situation. Our children desperately need our action yesterday.
Signatories:
- Dr Amar-Singh HSS, consultant paediatrician and child disability activist.
- Sharmila Sekaran, Voice of the Children.
- Dr Hartini Zainudin, child activist and co-founder of Yayasan Chow Kit and Voice of the Children.
- Amy Bala, Malaysian Association of Social Workers.
- Thulasi Munisamy, Protect and Save the Children.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
