SHAH ALAM: Children who experienced childhood trauma as sexual crime victims have 30 times more of a risk for suicidal behaviour.
Health Ministry's public health expert Dr Noor Raihan Kamal said child victims after experiencing any forms of sexual abuse or harassment are at risk of being scarred mentally even when reaching adulthood.
She said male child victims are at 14 times risk of becoming a perpetrator whilen female child victims, on the other hand, have a likelihood to become domestic violence victims.
"Through our One Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC), in 2022, there are 9,704 cases of all types of abuse while last year, the cases have increased significantly with a total of 9,704.
"Of this number, 42 per cent involved child abuse and half of that number are sexual abuse cases which include rape and harassment," she said during a panel session at the Convention on the Protection of Students from Sexual Exploitation, here, today.
She assured all victims that the OSCC is opened round-the-clock at all government hospitals adding that healthcare workers at government clinics could also perform a first information report and refer victims to hospitals.
She said any victim who has yet to lodge a police report, they can do so at the respective OSCC.