SRI AMAN: The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development will hold roadshows across the state pertaining to the Sexual Offences Against Children Bill 2017, which was approved during the just-concluded parliamentary sitting.
Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said the roadshows would be held at schools to also involve parents-teachers associations (PTAs).
“We (ministry) will hold roadshows to tell the people about the Sexual Offences Against Children Bill 2017 and our target groups are schools to involve PTAs because they have direct link with the children,” she told reporters here yesterday.
Earlier, she officiated at the Sri Aman Education Appreciation ceremony in the civic centre here, which involved four secondary and 36 primary schools across this district.
She also said the government would set up a special court to preside over sexual cases against children in the country, following the approval of the Sexual Offences Against Children Bill 2017.
“A special court, which is more children-friendly, will be set up and we (ministry) will bring counsellors, police and psychologists to help the victims. The court will be set up once the Bill is endorsed and gazetted by Dewan Negara,” the minister said.
Rohani, who is Batang Lupar MP, said the court would enable the victims, who are children in trauma, to tell their side of the story to the authorities without fear – adding that the court would be like a ‘children’s playground’.
“With the setup of this special court, it would be easier for the authorities to nab the offenders of sexual abuse against children.”
Rohani added that the authorities were facing problems with the lack of report and evidence to nab the offenders, saying that with the setup of the special court it would enable more victims to lodge reports for further action.
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