M’sia proposes portal for child rights in south-south countries

BEIJING (Nov 9, 2010): Malaysia last week called for the setting up of a portal on child protection systems to advance child rights in south-south countries.

“The portal can serve as a depository information exchange centre for countries to share good practices on child protection initiatives,” Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Senator Heng Seai Kie said at a three-day high-level meeting which opened in Beijing on Nov 4, 2010.

Outlining Malaysia’s child protection policy approach and experience, she said the South-South Information Gateway (SSIG) under the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry was an example of “our proactive strategy in tackling the issue”.

“Through the SSIG, we hope to learn from other countries how they are able to promote efficient inter-ministerial collaboration to:

• SHARE best practices in the social workers sector with south-south countries through a knowledge transfer medium such as UNICEF; and
• STUDY the possibility of providing social work education and accreditation for the East Asia Pacific (EAP), whereby Malaysia’s Social Workers Act will enable those interested to undertake social work careers with international standard practices.

“We sincerely hope that together, we are able to advance and strengthen children’s rights not only in our respective countries, but regionally across the Asia Pacific Region,” she added.