AKTA KESALAHAN-KESALAHAN SEKSUAL TERHADAP KANAK-KANAK 2017: PENAMBAHBAIKAN PERUNDANGAN BERKAITAN JENAYAH SEKSUAL TERHADAP KANAK-KANAK DI MALAYSIA

Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017: An Improvement of the Legislation on Sexual Offences Against Children in Malaysia

Abstract

Sexual abuse is a form of violence that can threaten the safety and the rights of the children. It has a profound effect on the victim in which the child will experience physical injuries such as illness or injury to the part of the anal as well as experiencing emotional and sexual traumas such as depression, fear and confusion. The absence of specific laws relating to pornography, sexual grooming and sexual assaults in the existing legislation has been identified as the causes of sexual crimes against children. Most often criminal offenders have not been brought to justice. The drafting of the Sexual Offenses against Children Act 2017 (Act 792) has enhanced the legal breach of the law. In this regard, the article aims to analyze some types of sexual offences against children as defined in Act 792 as well as the issues related to its application and implementation in Malaysia. In order to carry out this study, an analysis was made on the Sexual Offenses against Children Act 2017 (Act 792) as well as the practices by some countries in combating sexual crimes against children in their countries. The study found that Act 792 has expanded the scope of sexual offences as well as emphasizing the prevention of sexual abuse against children. In fact, such laws have been adopted in some countries in the world such as the United States, United Kingdom and India. Additionally, this study is significant to assist the authorities such as the courts and the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development in improving the implementation of this law in Malaysia, particularly on the crimes against children in Malaysia.

Abstrak

Penderaan seksual terhadap kanak-kanak merupakan satu bentuk keganasan yang boleh mengancam keselamatan dan hak asasi seorang kanak-kanak. Ia meninggalkan kesan yang mendalam terhadap mangsa di mana kanak-kanak ini akan mengalami kecederaan fizikal seperti sakit atau terdapat luka pada bahagian sulit atau dubur selain mengalami trauma emosi dan seksual seperti kemurungan, ketakutan dan kekeliruan. Ketiadaan undang-undang khas berkaitan pornografi, pengantunan (sexual grooming) dan amang seksual dalam perundangan sedia ada telah dikenal pasti antara penyebab berlakunya jenayah seksual terhadap kanak-kanak. Malah sering kali pelaku jenayah tidak berjaya dibawa ke muka pengadilan. Penggubalan Akta Kesalahan-kesalahan Seksual Terhadap Kanak-kanak 2017 (Akta 792) telah menambah baik kelompangan undang-undang tersebut. Sehubungan itu, artikel ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis beberapa jenis kesalahan seksual terhadap kanak-kanak yang termaktub di dalam Akta 792 serta isu-isu yang berkaitan dengan pemakaian dan pelaksanaannya di Malaysia. Bagi menjalankan kajian ini, analisis dibuat terhadap Akta Kesalahan-kesalahan Seksual terhadap Kanak-kanak 2017 serta amalan yang diguna pakai oleh beberapa buah negara yang telah jauh ke hadapan dalam membanteras kes jenayah seksual terhadap kanak-kanak di negara mereka. Kajian mendapati Akta 792 ini telah meluaskan skop kesalahan-kesalahan seksual selain turut menekankan aspek pencegahan penderaan seksual terhadap kanak-kanak. Malah, undang-undang seumpamanya telah diguna pakai di beberapa buah negara di dunia seperti Amerika Syarikat, United Kingdom dan India. Selain itu, kajian ini adalah signifikan bagi membantu pihak pelaksana seperti mahkamah dan Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat dalam menambah baik pelaksanaan undang-undang ini di Malaysia khususnya undang-undang berkaitan jenayah terhadap kanak-kanak di Malaysia.