Casca calls for Malaysians to step up fight against child sexual abuse

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians should close ranks to fight the war against child abuse before the appalling crime becomes worse.
Citizens against child sexual abuse spokesperson Mimie Loke said abuse comes in many forms, with most of the perpetrators being persons closest to the child themselves.
"Awareness and education starts from parents. If the illicit act is committed by people known to the child, then there is a high possibility that the child would have been groomed by the perpetrator not to inform the parents or persons of trust.
"I urge parents to talk to their children, because the sooner they talk and understand the subject, the sooner kids will understand personal safety. Prevention is the key to stopping any abuse," Loke said during the launch of awareness campaign against child sexual abuse today.
Loke stressed that awareness and education comes hand in hand in combating sexual crimes against children.
She then pointed out that with the advent of social media, it is important for parents to be wary of who the children are talking to or being friends with.
"The reason is some adults might pose as teenagers in chatrooms and befriend the child and after a few chats, they might ask the child out on the pretense of social gathering.
"Therefore, parents supervision is important to prevent situation like this from happening because this type of scenario normally would not end well as the child might get violated," she explained.
Loke hoped there would be laws to stop child grooming by adults for sexual purposes using social medias and all other forms of communication tools.
"At the same time, we also hope that personal safety education programme can be introduced in schools as a form of mechanism to prevent the risk of sexual abuse. The programme will empower children to take charge to protect themselves from these perpetrators," she said.
She added the programme should make children aware that the body belongs to them and nobody has the right to touch in a way they do not like or understand.
Loke urged the authorities to make the viewing of child pornography in any form illegal in the country.
"Many people might be not aware that watching child pornography, even when in private is also illegal.
"But what I like to emphasise here is we should put a stop on this because if we are able to do so then there would no longer be any demand for child pornography," she explained.