PETALING JAYA: Protect the identities of children involved in crime, as the negative stigma created can affect them for life, said Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) Children’s Commissioner Dr Farah Nini Dusuki.
She said that there is a tendency for the media to treat cases involving children the same as adults by highlighting case facts to get public attention.
"However, in cases involving children, regardless of the child’s position, the primary consideration is the child's best interest," she said.
She adds that studies show that children's potential for rehabilitation is much higher than that of adults who commit the same offence.
She referred to examples of violations by media agencies where the child's images were shown or their ages and location were revealed.
"Such matters have become the talk of the town for years and resulted in stigmatisation.
"This is something that sticks to a person regardless of how much they change," she said during a press conference by Suhakam about the ethics of news reporting regarding children on Monday (Sept 2) here.
Farah Nini said that Section 15 (1) of the Child Act 2001 prohibits the media from identifying children involved in legal conflicts.
"Whether the child is a victim, perceived to offend the law, or witness in legal proceedings, they have the right to be protected under Section 15 of the Child Act," she said.
The only exception is reports for missing children, where their identities are needed to locate the child, she added.
