School sexual abuse: Investigations and reporting reforms in Ireland and Malaysia

In Ireland, the Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Schools has launched a public survey. The commission, headed by Mr Justice Michael McGrath, is tasked with examining how concerns regarding child sexual abuse in schools were handled between 1927 and 2013. The survey aims to identify themes and patterns by inviting survivors and individuals with relevant knowledge to participate. It covers primary, secondary, community, and comprehensive schools, including both fee-paying and non-fee-paying institutions.

In Malaysia, the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) is calling for improved reporting mechanisms for sexual abuse in schools. Children’s commissioner Adib Samuri stated that schools should not rely exclusively on annual health screenings to detect abuse. Instead, he advocated for the establishment of trusted, independent reporting channels and the presence of trained officers within schools to ensure students feel safe disclosing violations, particularly when the alleged abuser is a staff member or someone connected to the institution.