Children, shelters and systematic crime

The recent case of an organisation in Malaysia that received a lot of media attention shows how much ignorance, lack of oversight, laxity and apathy there is within the organisation and among the people who have a personal stake in it.

Mountains of opinions and theories were thrown at the organization, with some defending the organization.

An overwhelming response is expected after 402 children were found in various shelters in Malaysia.

Allegations of sexual abuse, child trafficking, child abandonment, sodomy, forced labor, sexual exploitation and other related crimes continue to fill our daily news reports.

Certain individuals have been arrested and detained in connection with the allegations.

After the discovery of the children in the shelters, the alleged colossal crimes would point to systematic abuse and the way in which sexual violence could take place with impunity.

As surprising as this case is, it is not the first time that a religious organization has been accused of human trafficking, sexual exploitation and abuse of power.

The first documented case of sexual abuse occurred in 1629 in the Catholic Church at a school in Rome. This was followed by numerous allegations of sexual abuse, exploitation and neglect in the US, Europe and other parts of the world.

Institutional violence and abuse also occurred in Malaysia.

Let us not forget the case of some tahfiz schools and religious teachers, who physically and sexually abused their students.

Until recently, we still heard reports of children being bullied and sexually abused by their religious teachers or schoolmates.

Despite the abundance of laws available to protect children and vulnerable communities, children continue to be exploited with impunity.

Their complaints are often ignored, disbelieved and not treated as a priority.

They seem invisible and insignificant until tragedy strikes.

Not much is currently known about how shelters function and are maintained.

In most cases, shelters rely on donations and funds from governments, NGOs, businesses and the public.

A shelter is expected to be a place of refuge for people seeking protection and shelter.

It is a place where residents can get food, bedding, clothing and basic supplies.

In most cases, the residents of shelters are vulnerable and marginalized groups, such as orphans, victims of human trafficking, victims of domestic violence, the homeless, the disabled and other people in need of assistance.

Shelters generally have rules in place to regulate and monitor the daily activities of residents.

Shelters can also function as prisons to some extent, with rules designed to restrict, oppress and subjugate their inhabitants.

Some shelters also impose severe punishments on residents who break the rules.

In this case, it would not be far-fetched to describe the residents as captured communities.

Regardless of the nature of a shelter, it is of paramount importance that the well-being and welfare of its residents is taken care of.

However, it is important to realize that a shelter is not a dumping ground for children or for people who want to avoid their responsibilities as guardians.

It is shocking and disturbing to hear that some parents have no other option than to leave their children in the shelter so that they can work and earn a decent income.

What is even more shocking is the claim that the parents were forced to perform labor.

Given all this, is it fair to leave this entirely to law enforcement officers?

Or is this a case of institutional failure?

Comments have been made about how this case reflects an institutional failure due to the inactivity and unresponsiveness of certain agencies that were aware of this matter.

Another question that arises is how it is possible that these shelters can operate with impunity and whether complaints have been filed by victims or injured parties.

To answer this question, it is important that we ensure that we do not blame the victim or apply victim precision, which means that we hold the victim responsible or partly responsible for his or her victimization.

Previous research has shown that there are certain barriers to reporting malpractice and abuse when it comes to religious organizations.

These barriers include fear of disclosure to strict religious families, attitudes toward sex and sexuality within religious communities, fear of ostracism, reluctance to “shame” the religious organization, and cultures of secrecy and abuse.

Children who were brave enough to share their ordeals received inappropriate responses or their complaints were ignored.

In some cases, organizations have attempted to silence victims and their families by threatening them with deportation or other forms of punishment.

There are also known cases where victims are forced to remain silent or are offered a settlement.

Regardless of how we translate the findings in the field of child abuse, we must continue to realize that victims of child abuse experience trauma that can impact their lives.

Trauma does not go away on its own, it lingers and can develop into post-traumatic stress disorder, depression or other psychological and health complaints.

As a society, we must be vigilant and known for our strong moral and ethical values.

We must show our compassion, empathy and humanity when it comes to children, vulnerable groups and voiceless beings.

We now only pray that all investigations are conducted fairly and that the children in the shelter receive adequate care, love and support from their families and community.

The writer is a criminologist and Deputy Dean (Postgraduate Affairs) of the Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya. Comments: [email protected]