We often hear about war, poverty, AIDS and even bird flu cases. Child abuse is not unfamiliar to us at all, but how many actually cares to do SOMETHING to help prevent child abuse?
Do you know?
In 2008, an average of 7 children in Malaysia were abused a day. And these were only reported cases. And knowing how hardly child abuse cases are reported, chances are there were much more children being abused daily as compared to what the published statistics show. These figures does not tell us anything about the scope, magnitude and reasons for child abuse in Malaysia.
I'm sure many of us knows what child abuse means, and by child abuse, I don't mean just physically, it can be mentally and sexually. I myself don't read much on news and reports about child abuse, it's too heart wrenching for me, however I do watch the news and sometimes child abuse being portrayed in shows and documentary. Those children, they don't even know that they are being abused, because they are so young and their minds have already been made to believe that the abuse is not wrong. That's the thought that frightens me. Even if they know that they are being abused, they are too afraid to speak out.
There are many channels all around the world that we, as normal civillians can participate and lend a hand to help stop child abuse, but how many of us actually bothers to be a part of it? Excuses like 'no time' and 'not interested' should never have been there at the first place.
Considering how the number of child abuse cases has been increasing in Malaysia every year, UNICEF has started a nationwide movement called "Get on Board" to provide the public with the information, insight and resources to stop child abuse. This knowledge will empower everyone to protect the children in our families and communities. Let us show our children that at least a 100,000 of us care. The more people who raise their hand to be counted, the stronger the campaign becomes to deter an abuser from hurting a child.
Get on Board is a "people's campaign" by UNICEF to provide the Malaysian public with a platform to learn and respond to child abuse in the country. The digitally driven campaign, a first by UNICEF in the region, aims to strengthen public understanding of child abuse by providing information on the types of abuse, why it could happen and how to recognise symptoms in an abused child. It also hopes to empower the public to act on behalf of children by equipping them with protection solutions, parenting tips, action ideas and a directory of important resources. The campaign will run for two months. It was launched on 6 October in Kuala Lumpur and will culminate on 10 December (in conjunction with Human Rights Day). The finale will be hosted by UNICEF together with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and a local NGO, Childline Malaysia.
I very much agree with what the GOB celebrities has got to say about the campaign, especially Ruth Liew (parental expert, author and columnist).
“Children are people too! They need our respect and attention.
This campaign against child abuse and neglect wants everyone, young and old, men and women to stand up for children.
It is our responsibility to give our children a safe environment to grow and develop. We must no longer wait for social problems to go away. We must do it together! ”
The Get on Board website offers the Malaysian public a platform to unite and show their support to stopping child abuse. By logging online to www.uniteagainstabuse.my, concerned and caring individuals can show their support by:
- Learning more about child abuse. The website provides resources and opportunities to engage, educate and empower all of us to protect children from abuse.
- Signing up to the campaign. They do this by creating their own unique "Hand" symbol which can be used as their Facebook profile picture or on other social media to show solidarity across the country to end child abuse.
- Sharing materials on the website with their friends, loved ones and colleagues. All information on the website has Facebook and Twitter sharing capabilities so that users can help spread the word on how we can stop child abuse.
A short video on child abuse by UNICEF.
There are also other international websites/campaigns and global channels all around the world that support child abuse.
So get on board now and raise a hand.
I'm in, are you?
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