She said this was especially important since medical bills and counselling was expensive.
“If a baby’s body has been destroyed by a sexual abuser, repairing that body can take years.
“What if a neighbour, a teacher or a coach sexually abuses a child? The child will need continuous counselling. All this costs a lot of money,” she said during her closing speech for a course on managing sexual offences against children at the Judicial and Legal Training Institute (ILKAP) here today.
She said if cabinet members agreed to the idea of compensation for sexually abused children, which she may broach at next week’s cabinet meeting, then the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 which just came into affect last month, would have to be amended.
Azalina said having to pay compensation to the victim would act as a powerful deterrent against committing such an offence.
“When people know they will be liable to pay a compensation – which is a lot of money – they may think twice before sexually abusing a child.”
She also said the lengthy jail sentenced (22 life sentences) being served by convicted pedophile Richard Huckle wasn’t nearly enough.
“He’s in jail which is good but what about his victims? What happens to the children?”