WOMEN, Family, and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri urged parents of children who were sexually harassed to file reports.

She said parents should not hesitate or be afraid to report such incidents as it would protect their children.

Police statistics showed there were 378 sexual harassment cases in 2020, and the number increased to 506 in 2021, she said.

“However, there was a slight drop in 2022 with 477 cases, involving both men and women.

“While we acknowledge the decrease in reported cases, I remain concerned the victims might hesitate (to file reports) due to fear or embarrassment for their families. They should immediately report any instances of sexual harassment,” she said at a press conference after officiating the Anti-Sexual Harassment Advocacy Programme in Kelantan today.

Nancy said children who were victims of sexual harassment depend on their parents to protect them.

“Parents must educate their children, not hesitate to report incidents, and be cautious if anyone engages in improper conduct or touching. They should pay attention to their children’s movements and understand their body language.

“The fear and embarrassment of reporting can be part of the challenges in addressing sexual harassment, especially when the perpetrators view their actions as harmless jokes or misunderstandings,” she said.

Nancy said men also fall victim to sexual harassment, but many do not file reports. – Bernama, September 7, 2023.