Friday November 28, 2008

Protecting children is a top agenda, says Yen Yen

PETALING JAYA: There is a need to educate children on how to protect themselves including being able to recognise high-risk activities from the electronic media and their surroundings.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said children made up almost half of the country’s population. Therefore, protection of children and adolescents from all forms of sexual exploitation is a national agenda.

She said to overcome such exploitation, there must be efforts in strengthening family resilience, community and corporate social responsibility.

Adults must also be responsible for the protection and development of children, she said in her speech at the World Congress Against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

To enable the public to lodge reports on such cases, Dr Ng said the ministry had set up a hotline, Talian Nur, last year.

There were also laws as well as regional cooperation to address the issue, she said.

More News