More Special Courts for Sexual Crimes Against Children Needed

Last week, Pengerang MP Azalina Othman raised the issue of the lack of special courts for sexual crimes against children across most states in Malaysia, after the first two of such courts were established in Putrajaya and Kuching back in 2017 and 2018. Cases of sexual abuse and exploitation of children need to be handled carefully, not only because of the nature of these crimes but to ensure that the child is not further harmed or traumatised. So what role do these special courts play, especially to protect the child? Why do we need these courts established in each state across the country? Sharmila Sekaran, chairperson of Voice of the Children joins us to share more.

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