Many domestic violence and child abuse cases go unreported

KOTA KINABALU: A high number of domestic violence and child abuse cases go unreported in the country.

And serious efforts are underway to work out ways to reach out to these people in distress through awareness campaigns nationwide, the state Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun said.

She said that the Women Development Department had received 68 domestic violence and child abuse cases in 2007 that were referred for counseling under the department.

“But, what about the unreported cases. We believe there are more cases as even the Talian Nur (set up by the federal Women, Family and Community Development Ministry) recorded 450 cases the same year.

“Obviously the number of unreported cases is far greater,” she said when launching the JCI Intan White Ribbon Day to highlight the rights and causes of women worldwide here.

She said the government was continuously striving to implement various programmes and introduce new ways to reach out to those afraid to report their problems or to take action to stop the abuse they were experiencing.

Azizah said that men should also play a role in supporting women-oriented programmes and activities to help check on domestic abuse.

“I believe having men out there who are aware of domestic abuse being aware of this terribly sick problem, the better the chances of in reducing such cases that usually occur in the confines of homes,” she said in urging men to wear the white ribbons to fully support the fight against any form of abuse against women and children.