HEARING of abuse, violence or murder of children with disabilities is nothing new. International data suggests that children with disabilities face three to five times more abuse than non-disabled children, and Malaysia is no different. Although we lack local studies, it is estimated that 50% of all children with disabilities experience some form of abuse.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which Malaysia ratified on July 19, 2010, explicitly includes articles on prevention of abuse and violence.
Article 16 on “Freedom from Exploitation, Violence and Abuse” provides: “States parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social, educational and other measures to protect persons with disabilities, both within and outside the home, from all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse.”
Article 10 on “Right to Life” reads: “States parties reaffirm that every human being has the inherent right to life and shall take all necessary measures to ensure its effective enjoyment by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.”
Malaysia’s ratification of the CRPD means it has an obligation to respect, protect and fulfil the convention i.e. to ensure the protection of children with disabilities from abuse and violence, and uphold their right to life. The inhumane abuse and killing of a six-year-old disabled girl in Sarawak recently indicates gaps in child protection, especially for children with disabilities.
Some members of society may erroneously believe that the lives of children with disabilities are worthless, and even consider them to be “less human”. Others may think that the girl’s death is understandable, and that caring for a person with a disability is challenging and the person was probably under too much stress. Hence, they may not be affected by news of abuse or murders of persons with disabilities. Such perception is abhorrent and demeaning. Abusing and murdering a child with a disability can never be justified.
It is important to reflect on how the society and government agencies have failed children with disabilities. It is not just about how we have failed to protect them from harm, violence, abuse and murder. It is about how we have continuously and systematically underfunded social supports that are essential for children with disabilities to live safely and thrive in the community.
We should reflect on our failure to provide families and caregivers of children with disabilities the social support they need, including respite care, inclusive and affordable child care, affordable and accessible therapy services in the local community, inclusive education, funding for parents and caregivers, appropriate parent education, etc.
All parents who care for children with disabilities need such services and support. We urge the government to make relevant improvements to these services and provide relevant social support to the families and children with disabilities.
One child with disability murdered is one child too many.
Ng Lai Thin (Project Officer), Datuk Dr Amar-Singh HSS (Advisor), Wong Hui Min (President), National Early Childhood Intervention Council. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
