KUALA LUMPUR: Bullying must be addressed with urgency, Unicef warns, emphasising that the problem poses serious risks to children's safety and well-being in Malaysia.
Expressing his deep concern and sadness over recent reports of bullying among children, Unicef representative to Malaysia and special representative to Brunei Darussalam Robert Gass said the problem can have tragic consequences.
He stressed that no child should ever fear for their safety at school, and no parent should worry they may not see their child return home.
"Schools must be safe, joyful spaces where children learn, grow, and build friendships with dignity and respect," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Aug 27).
Gass noted that children themselves have consistently voiced their fears about bullying.
In Unicef's 2017 survey, bullying was identified as one of their biggest concerns, while the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2022 revealed that 8.6% of children reported being bullied in the past month.
Gass further added that Unicef guidance and consultations with children highlight the need for safer reporting channels, stronger school policies, and teachers who can respond with empathy so every child can learn free from fear.
Recent incidents reported in the media, he said, underscore the urgent need to strengthen Malaysia's child protection system to prevent and respond effectively to violence, exploitation, neglect, and abuse, both online and offline.
"This includes investing in professional social workers and the wider social service workforce such as school counsellors," he said.
Gass commended the government and partners for acting against violence towards children but stressed that stronger child-centred policies, better protection systems, and a culture of care in classrooms are still needed.
"Above all, these efforts must uphold every child's right to safety, dignity, and education free from fear," he said.
He urged that responses move beyond blame to solutions, reminding that children who bully are still children whose rights must be upheld and actions addressed through guidance and due process.
Unicef reaffirmed its readiness to support the government in ensuring that bullying has no place in Malaysia.
"Every child has the right to be safe, valued and protected in every space where they belong. Protecting these rights is not just an obligation under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, but a promise we must keep," Gass added. - Bernama
