KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 — Robert Gass, United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) representative in Malaysia, said today that policy responses to the growing number of violent incidents in schools must focus on prevention.
The warning comes as the country mourns the shocking killing of a Form Four student at a Bandar Utama school yesterday. The girl died from multiple stab wounds. Her killer was a student at the same school, two years her junior.
Gass said the recent spate of violence, both sexual and physical, in schools is alarming but praised Malaysian authorities, describing their response as swift. He also commended the support the government has extended to victims, survivors, and their families.
“No child should ever feel unsafe, particularly in a place of learning,” Gass said in a statement.
“Unicef has consistently maintained that prevention must be at the heart of all efforts. We call for the design of violence prevention programmes, strengthened support for parents and caregivers, effective reporting and response mechanisms, and safe schools and communities.”
The international body also warned about the potential circulation of videos, images, and personal details of children on social media, saying this risks compounding trauma and violating children’s rights to privacy and protection.
“The mental health and psychosocial well-being of survivors, families, peers, and educators must be prioritised,” Gass said.
“Unicef calls for safety and confidentiality during investigations, responsible reporting, and the creation of safe environments that prevent violence before it happens.”
Girls are disproportionately affected by such violence. Globally, nearly one in three women and girls will experience physical or sexual violence during their lifetime — driven by harmful gender and social norms that normalise abuse, shift blame away from perpetrators, and silence survivors.
Violence inflicts devastating and long-lasting harm on children’s physical and mental wellbeing and erodes trust in the institutions meant to protect them, Gass said.
The UN agency said it would continue to work with the Malaysian government, civil society, media, and communities to strengthen prevention and response systems, including those addressing gender-based violence and online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
