The New Straits Times
He also called for schools and schoolbus companies to ensure drivers and conductors had no criminal record.
"Schools should aggressively conduct checks on employees to filter those who may pose a danger to children."
He said registration would be an alternative solution in combating child rape which had prompted a call for the death sentence for those convicted of the crime.
Rape and other forms of sexual abuse of children are punishable under Sections 376 and 376 B of the Penal Code as well as the Child Act 2001.
Under the Penal Code, sex with a girl aged under 16 is an offence classified as statutory rape. If convicted, offenders could be imprisoned for up to 30 years, besides being caned.
The Child Act 2001 provides for the mandatory reporting of child abuse to the authorities.
Ragunath said capital punishment would not do much to deter offenders, saying that child rape was a worldwide problem.
"Sexual assault of children happens everywhere, regardless of whether the death penalty is imposed."
Ragunath said the council remained firm on its stance against corporal punishment as it was a breach of human rights.
Statistics from the police's sexual crimes and children investigation division revealed a 50 per cent rise in the number of sex offences over five consecutive years from 2005.
Last year, 2,048 rape cases involving girls aged 16 and below were reported compared with 925 cases in 2005.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Bar Council has called for the registration of sex offenders to curb the rising number of child rape cases nationwide.
Its president, Ragunath Kesavan, suggested that the government follow the arrangement in the United Kingdom where every convicted sex offender was required to be placed on a registry which could be accessed by employers.
"This will ensure that no sex offender can be employed in places where children are present, such as schools and day-care centres," he said.
Its president, Ragunath Kesavan, suggested that the government follow the arrangement in the United Kingdom where every convicted sex offender was required to be placed on a registry which could be accessed by employers.
"This will ensure that no sex offender can be employed in places where children are present, such as schools and day-care centres," he said.
He also called for schools and schoolbus companies to ensure drivers and conductors had no criminal record.
"Schools should aggressively conduct checks on employees to filter those who may pose a danger to children."
He said registration would be an alternative solution in combating child rape which had prompted a call for the death sentence for those convicted of the crime.
Rape and other forms of sexual abuse of children are punishable under Sections 376 and 376 B of the Penal Code as well as the Child Act 2001.
Under the Penal Code, sex with a girl aged under 16 is an offence classified as statutory rape. If convicted, offenders could be imprisoned for up to 30 years, besides being caned.
The Child Act 2001 provides for the mandatory reporting of child abuse to the authorities.
Ragunath said capital punishment would not do much to deter offenders, saying that child rape was a worldwide problem.
"Sexual assault of children happens everywhere, regardless of whether the death penalty is imposed."
Ragunath said the council remained firm on its stance against corporal punishment as it was a breach of human rights.
Statistics from the police's sexual crimes and children investigation division revealed a 50 per cent rise in the number of sex offences over five consecutive years from 2005.
Last year, 2,048 rape cases involving girls aged 16 and below were reported compared with 925 cases in 2005.
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