KESEDARAN KANAK-KANAK DI MALAYSIA TERHADAP KESELAMATAN DIRI

Children form a significant proportion of Malaysia s population. Rapid economic and social development has also led to an increase in crime rates. Children are at the highest risk of being the target of crimes. They are abused, victimised, abducted, killed and trafficked across borders. Sexual abuse, sexual assault and incest contribute to the highest form of violence amongst children after neglect and physical abuse. Various efforts have been taken either by public and private organisations to protect children from violence; especially sexual assault. Children advocates, social workers who work with children, social welfare officers, educators, doctors and lawyers believe that a child s understanding of his/her body parts and his/her knowledge about right and wrongful acts to his/her body parts plays a very significant protective role in preventing them from being sexually assaulted. As a result, programs in which personal safety could be inculcated amongst children have been conducted mainly by non-profit organisations which focus mainly on child protection measures. A curriculum, namely Keeping Me Safe was launched to assess children s understanding about their body; which later is used as indicators for their awareness on their personal safety. A six-hour program on personal safety has been taught to Standard 3 students in selected primary schools. The aim of the program is to enhance the personal safety skills in children so that they are able to protect themselves against sexual abuse and violence. The experimental groups showed dramatic awareness about their safety after completing the six Keeping Me Safe sessions.