00:00I'm honored to stand before you today to celebrate a truly momentous occasion, World
00:11Children's Day and 70th anniversary of the partnership between UNICEF and the people
00:17of Malaysia.
00:19This partnership, raised by the vision of our first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman,
00:25has endured now for seven decades, transforming the lives of children across our nation.
00:34Today we are not only reflecting on our achievements, but also reaffirming our commitment to a brighter
00:40future.
00:42Our dedication to the Convention on the Rights of the Child is more critical than ever as
00:49we navigate a rapidly changing world, listening to their perspectives, dreams, and concerns
00:57is essential for us to make informed decisions that generally reflect their needs.
01:03Today we are here to listen to the children and young people among us.
01:10Their voices must guide us as we work to fulfill the promises of the Convention on the Rights
01:16of the Child.
01:18Building on this commitment to listening and empowering children, our efforts are
01:26further strengthened through impactful initiatives like the Child Safety Advocacy Program, we
01:33call it KASIF Kanak-Kanak.
01:36This program, led by the Social Welfare Department, or the JKM, has been a cornerstone of our
01:42child protection efforts.
01:45Through school outreach programs, JKM has educated children on their rights, safe and
01:52unsafe touch, and what to do in unsafe situations.
01:57This year, the program has reached 326 schools and over 170,000 participants nationwide,
02:07surpassing its target of 300 schools.
02:11Places such as Kedah, Melaka, and Terengganu have exceeded their targets, reflecting a
02:17strong commitment to child safety across the country.
02:22Similarly, the LPPKN, one of our agencies, and the Agency Under Our Ministry has been
02:30actively promoting adolescent wellness through initiatives such as the Sexual Reproductive
02:36Health Advocacy Program.
02:38Safety brings enormous opportunities.
02:40The digital world must also be a place of safety and growth, where frontier technologies
02:47like artificial intelligence can be equitably and responsibly harnessed.
02:52But not a space of inequality, not a space of exploitation, not a space for bias, and
02:59not a space for misinformation.
03:02In this ever-connected world, we cannot afford to leave any child behind.
03:08We must act now to protect, to empower, and to ensure that every child has a fair chance.
03:17World Children's Day is a moment to reimagine what is possible.
03:21To listen, to learn, and to be led by children themselves.
03:28This year's theme, Reimagine the Future, reminds us, while the future belongs to them,
03:35it's also up to us to pave the way together.
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