By Caritas Malaysia
PAPAR, Sabah — Caritas Malaysia National Assembly was held at Pace Bene, FSIC Centre for Spiritual Formation from 12–15 November with one of the key objectives being safeguarding—to ensure safeguarding of vulnerable populations is integral to all Caritas activities, emphasising the protection of human dignity as a reflection of core values.
President of Caritas Malaysia, Bishop Bernard Paul emphasised the Caritas role as mission of charity and justice, to witness the glory of God to all fellow human beings through their dignity as Children of God. As disciples of Christ, Caritas will engage in the frontlines of natural disasters, refugees and migrants, pastoral care of homeless, and feeding the poor while protecting and safeguarding the dignity of every person.
National Director Fr Fabian Dicom said that Caritas Malaysia is committed in creating and maintaining an environment which promotes its core values as well as prevents abuse and exploitation of all persons under Caritas care and control. He said with this Safeguarding awareness programme, participants must leave with a renewed commitment to safeguarding practices at all levels of Caritas Malaysia’s operations.
Psychiatrist Dr Mary Bharathy started the session on safeguarding by presenting the topic of psychological effects of child abuse with an overview of the types of abuses, which include physical, emotional, sexual and neglect. Dr Mary highlighted detailed ways to identify and look out for signs of child abuse as well as explained the symptoms of sexual abuse and its long-term psychological effects.
Caritas Admin Executive Pauline Yeo noted that since 2019, Caritas Internationalis has been strengthening its safeguarding practices with the integration of Safeguarding as the fifth standard within Caritas Internationalis Management Standards.
Caritas Malaysia has its own Children and Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Policy applied to all Caritas Malaysia staff and associates with safeguarding practices of Safe Recruitment, Setting Conduct Standards, Complaints Handling and Awareness Training programmes.
Lawyer Christopher Kushi highlighted that Malaysia has a very comprehensive set of legislation for child and vulnerable persons protection. In 2022, the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act was gazetted while the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act was amended for latest person trafficking crimes. Upcoming law in parliament is the Online Safety Bill while civil society is proposing an Anti-Bullying law.
Members were informed of the Talian Kasih 15999 hotline and the National Mental Health Crisis Line – Talian Heal 15555 to support vulnerable people experiencing emotional distress.
Caritas also has a specific definition for “Vulnerable Person” as befitting its mission clients: “Vulnerable adults are also individuals aged 18 years and over who are at a greater risk of significant harm due to factors such as gender, age, mental or physical health, or because of poverty, inequality or experience of displacement or crisis”.
The term safeguarding encompasses child protection, vulnerable persons protection, prevention of gender base violence, protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment at workplace.
Caritas has defined Safeguarding as the responsibility that organisations have to make sure their staff and programmes promote the welfare of all people, especially children and vulnerable adults and do not expose them to harm and abuse. Safeguarding is also a demonstrated commitment to Caritas core values and Catholic social teaching principles.
Pope Francis in 2022 has pledged that the Catholic Church must show ‘zero tolerance’ to sexual assault. He told TVI/CNN Portugal, “It’s very clear. It’s zero tolerance”. For Caritas Malaysia, all forms of sexual relations between aid workers and programme participants of any age are prohibited and is grounds for legal intervention and termination.
