Sharifah Hasidah urges children to speak up for their rights

KUCHING (Sept 4): Every child has the right to be protected and live in peace as the country has specific laws to safeguard their rights, said Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali..

The Deputy Minister in the Premier of Sarawak’s Department (Law, MA63, and State-Federal Relations) stated that the four fundamental rights of children that are important and upheld in this country are the right to life, protection, development, and participation.

“If any of these four rights are not provided or protected, children have the right to speak up and seek help from adults, such as their teachers or parents.

“If any of you need help, don’t be shy or afraid to ask for it. Remember, we all have the right to be protected.

“Take care of yourselves and your friends, and if you see a friend in trouble or unsafe, quickly inform an adult who can help. We all need to take care of ourselves, including our friends,” she said in her speech at the launch of the Children Advocacy Programme in SMK Semerah Padi here today.

Besides informing to adults, Sharifah Hasidah said that children can also contact the Talian Kasih hotline at 15999.

“The community is also urged to do the same by calling Talian Kasih at 15999 or reporting immediately to the police if they know of any child experiencing abuse or neglect.

“Do not just record videos for social media; take action by reporting these issues promptly,” she stressed, while also expressing hope that these measures will help improve the safety of children in terms of their mental health and physical well-being.

She hoped that everyone can work together to find the right solutions to address social issues, ensure safety, and protect children, so as to curb the increase in cases of abuse and neglect of this group in the future.

Sharifah Hasidah also lauded the efforts of the management, including the teachers at SMK Semerah Padi, in enhancing children’s understanding of situations that require care and protection.

“This programme is excellent because it also provides insight into the actions that parents, guardians, the children themselves, or the community can take when involved in such cases,” she said.