ASEAN must place children at the centre of policymaking and step up collective efforts to combat all forms of violence against them, including growing threats in the digital space, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
She said every child has an equal right to protection, dignity and opportunities to realise their potential, with the best interests of children serving as the guiding principle for policies and decisions affecting them.
Speaking at the opening of the ninth ASEAN Children’s Forum (ACF) today, Nancy said around 200 million children below 18 live in ASEAN, accounting for about 30% of the region’s population.
She said children in the region continue to face abuse, neglect and exploitation, with violence increasingly extending beyond physical harm to cyberbullying, online exploitation and other forms of digital abuse.
Under this year’s theme, “Shielding ASEAN Childhood, Say No to Violence”, Nancy said ASEAN must strengthen prevention systems, support survivors and ensure children remain central to the region’s development agenda.
Meanwhile, Nancy urged parents to be more cautious when sharing their children’s photographs and personal information online, warning that excessive exposure could increase the risk of online exploitation.
“As a mother and now a grandmother, I appeal to all parents to prioritise their children’s privacy. The more we expose them on social media, the greater the opportunity for those with malicious intentions to target them,” she said.
She added that the ministry would continue awareness programmes for parents and work with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to promote safer Internet practices.
The two-day forum brings together child representatives from ASEAN member states to discuss issues affecting children and formulate recommendations for policymakers.
