LAUNCHED: (From third left) Fatimah, Yong and others browsing the newly launched website.
SIBU: The One Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC) here is reaching out to victims of violence through its OSCC website.
Its website www.osccmy.org was launched yesterday.
Minister of Welfare, Women, and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah described the move as timely especially in view of the fast development of the digital world.
Speaking at the official launching of the website at Sibu Hospital, she said that this was a benchmark for greater awareness of the problems related to domestic violence.
“Right now, everybody is talking about ICT, Facebook and Twitter, so the centre comes at the right time; it is in sync with the development of ICT.
“I believe that the website would be able to help the victims especially by providing all the information that the public needs to know,” she pointed out. With only a click of a mouse, she said the public, especially victims of violence, could seek help.
Among the features in the website are e-counselling, laws and acts, contacts, recruitment for volunteers, workshops, seminars, and so forth.
Through this, victims would know the assistance and services available, and the people to contact when they need help, she explained. She hoped that other centres in the state would emulate the move of the centre especially at the divisional level, such as in Kuching, Miri, and Bintulu where domestic violence, rape and violence against children are rampant. Reiterating the importance of awareness, she said this could reduce the stigma and negative perception in society.
“There are still many unreported cases due to the stigma, blame, and trauma, so the centre plays an important role in creating greater awareness in the society and in helping the victims to do their reporting,” she said.
Through the centre the victims could deal with their problems in private. Meanwhile, Sarawak OSCC chairman Datuk Lily Yong called on all agencies to work together to help victims of violence.
“Most of us, who I describe as fortunate people, should give a helping hand. Let no one suffer in silence,” she pointed out. With 15 years of history, Yong hoped that the centre could continue to help the victims rebuild their lives.
She said the centre should not be resting on their laurels because there were many cases that had gone unreported. The centre has recorded 42 cases of violence since January this year. Thirty-eight of the cases concerned women victims.