By Herald Malaysia
BUKIT MERTAJAM – Caritas Penang, in the third series of its Safeguarding of Minors and Vulnerable Persons initiative, hosted a discourse on Feb 16 to raise awareness among its members and associates about the dangers of harmful online content, including cyberbullying, sexual and violent material, and content related to selfharm.
Caritas Penang remains steadfast in its commitment to recognising and addressing the needs of children and vulnerable individuals, ensuring the creation and maintenance of a safe and protective environment for them.
During the talk, lawyer Christopher Kushi introduced participants to the term Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), which has replaced Child Pornography in the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. CSAM more accurately reflects the criminal nature of such material, as children can never consent to its creation.
With the growing prevalence of abusive and harmful content involving minors on the internet, it is crucial for the public to understand that all CSAM is a form of child abuse. This abuse can occur in isolated settings, where children are coerced into performing explicit acts for videos that are then sold online. Increased awareness will encourage parents and church members to stay vigilant. Additionally, Malaysia is currently in the process of legislating an Online Safety Bill.
Dr Mary Bharathy, a psychiatrist, addressed the Psychological Effects of Child Sexual Abuse during the talk. She emphasised that the first step in addressing abuse is recognising the signs and symptoms in affected children. These may include engaging in sexual play with peers, imitating sexual acts, showing an obsession with pornography, or participating in explicit conversations. Affected children may also become withdrawn, depressed, and struggle with school performance.
Dr Mary also highlighted the issue of child sexual grooming, where an individual gains a child’s trust to cross personal boundaries and gain sexual access. Grooming is increasingly happening through social media platforms, online gaming, and dating websites. Children often find it difficult to disclose their experiences of abuse. As a result, Caritas members must be vigilant in recognising the signs of grooming, responding appropriately, and offering support to the affected children.
To build trust and encourage more people to come forward, Christopher Kushi recommended replacing the term “complaint” with “concern.” This shift aims to empower individuals to report any issues they observe related to the protection of children and vulnerable persons. By using the phrase “raising a concern” instead of “making a complaint,” individuals are more likely to speak up without feeling they are making an accusation or causing trouble.
This change fosters a culture where raising concerns is viewed as a positive and essential action for ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable individuals. – Herald Malaysia
