Letters | Hong Kong child abuse cases reveal need for a paradigm shift on protection
- Several recent cases involving children suffering abuse at the hands of people they should be able to trust or in places they should feel safe illustrate the need to move beyond a reactive approach to child welfare
The Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights is disheartened by several cases that have been heard in court in recent months. They concern children being abused by people they know and should be able to trust, or by people in places that they should feel safe.
In another case, a 26-year-old pastoral assistant of a secondary school invited some students to an overnight camp in Cheung Chau. When he was alone with a 15-year-old boy, he took nude photos of him, indecently assaulted him and threatened to put his nude photos online.
Finally, a 40-year-old information technology assistant secretly filmed two primary school students in the female restroom.
The Sexual Conviction Record Check (SCRC) Scheme has been in force in Hong Kong since December 2011. However, it is voluntary and does not cover private tutors, voluntary instructors and staff hired before the scheme’s effective date.
Clarify guidelines on reporting child abuse
In the first case, the private tutor was able to hide his previous criminal record. In the pre-sentencing reports heard in court, his risk of reoffending was assessed as very high. The reports said he would pose harm to little boys and concluded he should be prohibited from taking jobs involving children.
We need proactive child law reform to save children from harm. Policy measures such as mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse, making the SCRC compulsory and a comprehensive review of outdated laws through a child protection bill are needed.
We also need a paradigm shift of mindset from the welfare-centred, reactive concept of “child protection” to a more proactive, rights-focused one of “child safeguarding”.
What action has been taken to ensure this is followed in actual practice?
Billy Wong, executive secretary, Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights