Keep kids out of campaigning, child rights groups tell parties

The civil society groups said the materials involved leaders and campaigners from Pakatan Harapan and DAP during the Negeri Sembilan election campaign. PETALING JAYA: Three civil society groups have urged political parties not to involve children in election campaigning following the circulation of videos allegedly featuring children being prompted to chant slogans and call on the public to vote.Voice of the Children, the Children’s Protection Society Malaysia and G25 Malaysia, in a statement today, said the materials involved leaders and campaigners from Pakatan Harapan (PH) and DAP during the Negeri Sembilan election campaign.However, they said that the same principle should apply to all political parties and candidates.They said Malaysia acceded in 1995 to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, whose monitoring committee cautioned against adults manipulating children in this manner."A child who repeats a slogan at an adult’s urging is not exercising a voice. The child’s voice is being exploited," they said.The NGOs also said that children were not in a position to assess a government’s record, understand a manifesto or fully grasp the meaning of the political messages they were asked to repeat.They also raised concerns over the children’s privacy, saying videos posted online could remain searchable for years and permanently associate them with political views they did not choose.The children could also be exposed to abuse often directed at political content online, they added.The groups said parental consent did not resolve the issue as the long-term consequences would be borne by the child, who might hold different political views as an adult.They urged PH and DAP to withdraw the materials and pledge not to use children in such a manner for the remainder of the campaign.They also called on all other political parties to make the same commitment.They asked the Election Commission to introduce clear rules prohibiting the use of children in campaign activities and materials, while allowing children to accompany their parents at political events."Children cannot vote, cannot consent and cannot withdraw.

They should not be asked to campaign," they said.