“There should be consultation with local and international partners,” added Marianne Clark-Hattingh, the Unicef representative in Malaysia.

Sustained dialogue can ensure that child protection is aligned with international legal frameworks, she said.

“These include the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols.”

Unicef has in fact been strengthening the judiciary, police, prosecutors, the legal fraternity and other key stakeholders in Malaysia on child protection and child justice over the last three years.

The UN body was commenting on a statement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman on the Child Sexual Crimes Bill.

Unicef finds it noteworthy the Bill includes child online protection. “The focus is on curbing grooming,” said Clark-Hattingh. “It’s a worrying trend as the country’s digital footprint increases.”

In drafting the law, she continued, “the full range of physical contact offences and ‘non-contact’ offences must be included”.

The Unicef chief cited some examples: sexual acts in front of a child, inducing a child to touch him/herself in a sexual manner or inciting or facilitating a child to perform a sexual act.

Laws are not enough to keep children safe online and offline.

There must be enforcement and support for victims; and an environment whereby children can report sexual abuse.