SAFETY of children is still a big concern in Malaysia due to the high number of trafficking and abduction cases, as well as the rise of cyberbullying, said a Unicef representative.

In an interview with The Malaysian Insight recently, Unicef deputy representative in Afghanistan, Malaysian-born Sheema Sen Gupta said Malaysia is less safe now than when she was growing up.

“Although Malaysia is still relatively safer than many countries that I have been in, I don’t think it is safer today than it was when I was growing up.

“Obviously, other war-torn countries are dangerous but there are also countries that are not at war (like Malaysia) that are not safe for other reasons.

“Children are trafficked every day, everywhere.”

Aside from child trafficking and abduction, she said children in Malaysia are subjected to cyberbullying, which is on the rise.

In a survey measuring cyberbullying last year, Malaysia ranked sixth out of 28 countries and second worst in Asia.

A total of 23% of Malaysian parents polled last year believed their children had been victims of cyberbullying at least once.

Sheema said while internet could not be disregarded, proper awareness was needed to address cyberbullying.

“Online bullying is a reality today. In countries like Malaysia, where you think you’re relatively safe because it looks all great, there is so much happening to kids online.

“I think it is important to create the awareness, to be open and transparent with our children… to be able to tell them, to warn them about what cyberbullying is.

“Think about it, you can get so much information, so many resources, which is useful. So, not telling them that it (internet) is bad but actually making them aware of its dangers.”

She also touched on child marriages, saying while such marriages took place in Malaysia, they were not as prevalent as in other countries.

She said Malaysia had ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1995 and as such has to carry out its obligations, including to protect children from marriage.

“I was in Somalia, I’m in Afghanistan, I was in Bangladesh. These are countries with very high rates of child marriages.

“I think the states that have ratified the convention need to carry out their obligations and child marriage is one of the things that should not be happening.

“They have committed to that and I think they should keep to that commitment.”

Sheema has been in her position in Afghanistan since February.

Prior to that, she held leadership positions, including deputy representative in Unicef Bangladesh, and former chief of child protection in Unicef Somalia. – September 8, 2019.