KUALA LUMPUR – Child protection requires stronger cooperation among families, schools, communities and authorities, with greater emphasis on turning public awareness into action, said two leaders of the Children’s Protection Society Malaysia (CPSM).
CPSM president Datuk Seri Nazir Ariff said protecting children could not be left to individual organisations or institutions, but required sustained commitment and shared responsibility.
"Child protection cannot rest on the shoulders of one organisation or institution alone. It requires families, schools, communities and relevant authorities to work together to ensure that children are protected from harm and receive the support they need.
"We must move beyond awareness and strengthen the systems and collective responsibility that help keep children safe," he said.
Organised by the CPSM Kuala Lumpur branch in collaboration with the Women Economic Forum (WEF) and G100 Global Meet 2026, the two-day National Child Protection Leadership Conference 2026 carries the theme "The Best Interests of the Child".
The conference focuses on four key pillars — Protect, Empower, Educate and Report — with discussions covering family and community support, child safety in a changing world, safer schools and spaces, and improvements to reporting mechanisms, accountability and access to justice.
CPSM Kuala Lumpur branch chairman Tengku Datuk Asra Jehan said the collaboration with WEF and G100 Global Meet 2026 provided a platform to bring child protection into wider discussions on leadership, empowerment and nation-building.
"Our collaboration with WEF and G100 Global Meet 2026 gives us an important platform to bring child protection into wider conversations on leadership, empowerment and nation-building.
"Through Safe Child, Strong Nation, we want to encourage more people to recognise that protecting children is a shared responsibility.
"But awareness must lead to action, which is why the Policy Lab is an important next step in identifying gaps and developing practical recommendations to strengthen Malaysia’s child protection system," she said.
The conference also builds on CPSM’s Safe Child, Strong Nation campaign, launched in June to raise public awareness and encourage action on child protection.
The conference will continue tomorrow with the National Child Protection Leadership Policy Lab, where participants will examine Malaysia’s existing child protection system, identify gaps and opportunities, and develop recommendations to inform future policy development.