The Special Forum, “Melestari Islam di Alam Melayu dalam Era Kontemporari: Isu Perlindungan Kanak-kanak” or Perpetuating Islam in Malay World in the Contemporary Era: Child Protection Issues was discussed on the second day of the 10th International Conference on Islam in Malay World, ICON-IMAD. The forum organised by Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University, UNISSA with the cooperation of the Brunei Mid Year Conference and Exhibition, MYCE was held at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.
Present was Doctor Siti Norkhalbi binti Haji Wahsalfelah, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. 3 panellists from various backgrounds presented several working papers. In the first working paper, Dayang Siti Zaharah bin Haji Abdul Razak, Assistant Director of Family, Women and Children’s Section, Department of Community Development, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports among others touched on the issues affecting children in the country such as abuse and neglect. Her working paper also shared the helpline 121 and 141 to facilitate the society in making complaints on the issue.
Meanwhile, the second panellist, Dayang Nurul Nazurah binti Jaya, the Community Development Officer, Family, Women and Children’s Section, Department of Community Development, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports shared the National Framework for Child Protection. According to Dayang Nurul Nazurah, the framework has 6 cores tasked with more efficiently streamlining and improving enforcement work for the protection of children in the country.
The third panellist, Professor Doctor Nehaluddin Ahmad, Lecturer from the Faculty of Law and Syariah, UNISSA shared his research on ”Legal and Policy Framework for Childs Rights Protection in Brunei Darussalam”. According to him, the project is still ongoing and has made several proposals to relevant parties to update the legislation related to children with disabilities and explained in detail some definitions such as incest and the definition of children itself.
Several forum participants said that the forum is beneficial especially in relation to child abuse and problems. According to them, the exposure given should be extended from time to time.
Source: Radio Television Brunei