What legal gaps allow abuse of disabled children to persist?

Question

Accepted Answer

Legal Amendments Urgently Needed to Address Gaps in Protection for Disabled Children

Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi has urged the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) to expedite amendments to the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) Act 2008 and the Care Centres Act 1993. These legislative revisions are deemed critical to proactively address and prevent the recurrence of abuse against children with disabilities, highlighting a perceived inadequacy in the current legal framework.
Amendments to PwD and Care Centres Acts Called For

Senator Ras Adiba has specifically called for immediate amendments to the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) Act 2008 and the Care Centres Act 1993. The senator stated that the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development must take proactive steps to tackle issues concerning the abuse of disabled children, aiming to prevent such incidents from happening again.
Call for Parliamentary Review and Stricter Enforcement

The senator requested that cases of abuse involving children, particularly those with disabilities, be brought before the Parliament’s Special Select Committee on Women’s and Children’s Affairs. Furthermore, she called for the Social Welfare Department (JKM) to enforce the closure of any unregistered childcare, PwD, or senior citizen homes.
Child Act 2001 Provisions and Related Case

The ongoing trial of Siti Bainun Ahd Razali, founder of Rumah Bonda, for allegedly neglecting and abusing Bella, a 13-year-old girl with Down syndrome, underscores the urgency of these calls. Siti Bainun faces charges under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which stipulates a potential 20-year jail sentence or a RM50,000 fine, or both, upon conviction for offenses related to child abuse and neglect. The alleged abuse occurred between February and June 2021 at a condominium in Wangsa Maju.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

What legal gaps allow abuse of disabled children to persist?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends