KUALA LUMPUR (16 October 2025) – The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) expresses its deep concern over the recent reports of violence, bullying, sexual assault, and gender-based killings involving girls in Malaysia, including cases in Sabah, Melaka, Selangor, and Kedah.
These incidents, including gang rapes and fatal acts of violence that amount to femicide, expose a grave reality: children, particularly girls, continue to be failed by the very protection systems and social structures meant to keep them safe. Schools, communities, and even online spaces that should nurture learning, trust, and growth are increasingly becoming sites of fear, victimisation, and harm. This situation is not only a national tragedy but a serious violation of children’s rights, dignity, and equality.
Malaysia’s commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and Article 8(2) of the Federal Constitution, which prohibits gender discrimination, must translate into real and effective protection on the ground. Yet, persistent gaps in enforcement, coordination, and societal awareness continue to leave girls vulnerable to gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, and public humiliation, both offline and online.
SUHAKAM therefore calls for:
- The establishment of coordinated national data on gender-based and child-targeted violence, including femicide, to inform evidence-based and gender-responsive policy interventions.
- Each relevant Ministry, including the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD), the Ministry of Education (MoE), and the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) to appoint gender and child protection focal points to ensure timely, survivor-centred, and trauma-informed responses.
- All schools to be safe and inclusive environments, through stronger anti-bullying and anti-harassment policies and enforcement, confidential reporting mechanisms, and comprehensive education on gender equality, respect, and consent.
- The media and the public to uphold ethical standards by refraining from publishing, circulating, or discussing material that could identify children involved in criminal or sensitive cases.
Malaysia’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), requires urgent and coordinated action to ensure that girls and all children live free from violence, discrimination, and exploitation.
As the world recently observed the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, Malaysia must move beyond commemoration and take decisive action to safeguard its girls, not only from physical and sexual violence, but also from the indignity of public exposure, online shaming, and the escalating threat of femicide. Protecting children’s rights means protecting their identities, safety, and dignity, both offline and online. Every girl has the right to live free from gender-based violence, including femicide, and to grow in environments that uphold her equality, autonomy, and respect.
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Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
Date: 16 October 2025
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