KOTA KINABALU: Sabah ranks third in child abuse cases nationwide as of last year, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
She said there could be various factors contributing to this, including a lack of awareness among the community and a lack of empathy among the authorities in charge of these cases.
“The Welfare Department recorded 6,781 cases (nationwide) involving child abuse and neglect, including physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Of these, Sabah has 703 cases,” she said at a town hall session and launch of the Child Placement Management Guidebook for foster parents here yesterday.
Nancy said those involved in childcare protection services should play a bigger role to ensure children are well taken care of.
“I urge all involved in this industry, especially those dealing with child neglect and abuse cases, to have high empathy and stay strong when facing challenges in their jobs,” she said.
The guidebook, she added, is to ensure that foster care procedures are conducted well, besides acting as a psychological measuring tool that provides scientific data.
