Expedite action plan for National Children’s Policy

The updated National Children’s Policy was launched in November 2024 and we have been waiting to see the planned deliverables – the promised ‘action plan’ to accompany this policy.

The National Children’s Policy focuses on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) key aspects of survival, protection, development and participation. It includes aspects of health, education, safety and welfare.

These are all vital areas in the lives of many children in Malaysia – those who need protection from abuse and harm, those living in poverty, children with disabilities, those without access to healthcare, education and an identity.

We understand that the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development has recently presented some idea of the action plan to relevant agencies and civil society organisations.

The plan focuses on merging programmes targeted at parents, integration of capacity development and advocacy, and awareness programmes among various ministries.

The ministry highlighted the four main objectives (survival, protection, development and participation) and the 16 strategic priorities, and indicated that the plan will be monitored under the National Council for Children and the Department of Social Welfare.

Sadly, we are again left wondering what actions will be taken, when and to what end. The presentation lacked any meaningful deliverables. What mechanisms and resources will be used to achieve these strategic priorities? Which agencies will be involved and take responsibility for each strategic priority? What is the timeline to achieve each strategic priority?

It is important to look at the timelines for the development of our National Children’s Policy:

2009-2015:  We had a ‘National Children’s Policy’ and the ‘National Children’s Action Plan’ but there has not been any published evidence-based data on the effectiveness of the policy and plan. We are unaware whether an independent external audit was conducted and made public. Or how the current National Child Policy is aligned with the regional plan of actions to promote children’s rights and protection and meet the sustainable development goals Malaysia is committed to. We also had a ‘National Child Protection Policy and Plan of Action’ for the time period with the same concerns.

2020: Planning to upgrade the National Children Policy and action plan involving relevant ministries and agencies

2021-2022:  Development of the National Children Policy

2023: Final draft of policy was distributed to relevant ministries and agencies for feedback and approved by the National Children’s Policy development steering committee and action plan meeting.

Jun 2024: Cabinet approval of the National Children Policy

Nov 2024: Revised National Children’s Policy launched (no action plan).

April 2025: The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development presented some idea of the action plan to relevant agencies and civil society organisations (no detailed action plan).

It is of concern that after close to five years, we still do not have access to or a clear idea of the action plans, indicators, targets and timelines that will be put in place to improve the lives of all our children. Will targets meet international standards, laws and policies such as the UNCRC, United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw) and sustainable development goals and improve the lives of our children?

While the ministry has engaged civil society groups and the private sector, their engagement with these groups, families and communities has been limited and not far reaching, leaving many grassroots organisations out of the ecosystem to champion the rights and protection of all children nationwide.

As the National Children’s Policy states on the last page, “Children’s rights are our shared responsibility.”

It would be best if the ministry shared its existing or draft action plan online and engage civil society organisations involved with children, professionals and children to help strengthen the ‘action plan’ for the next five years.

It would be ideal to make the action plan of the National Children’s Policy a living document with shared responsibility with civil society, the public and children.

A living or dynamic document can be continually updated and revised to ensure it remains current and relevant. It would allow for action plans to be used immediately and monitored collectively as an all-of-society approach. It would encourage our listening to children and their involvement in the plans and decisions that affect their lives.

We need to systematically ensure diverse and marginalised children, including stateless, refugee, undocumented, indigenous, and children with disabilities, participate in the formation of the action plan.

We need to ensure child-friendly, age, gender and linguistically appropriate, and disabled friendly versions of the policy and action plan are made accessible for all children and young people in Malaysia.

As civil society, we would like to see targets and indicators that focus on:

In addition, we require an independent child rights committee that monitors and evaluates the progress made on the National Child Policy and its plan of action.

Currently the National Children’s Policy is just a nice concept in a glossy document. We are long overdue in taking concerted action to change the situation. Our children desperately need our action yesterday.

Signatories: 1. Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS, consultant paediatrician, child-disability activist 2. Sharmila Sekaran, Voice of the Children 3. Dato Dr Hartini Zainudin, child activist; co-founder, Yayasan Chow Kit and Voice of the Children 4. Amy Bala, Malaysian Association of Social Workers 5. Thulasi Munisamy, Protect and Save the Children