PUTRAJAYA: His Royal Highness Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir emphasised the need to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong opportunities for all as laid down in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).
His Royal Highness said, there should be a change in the government policy that currently denies children who are refugees or stateless to have access to formal education in the country.
“The move will not only break the generational cycle of poverty but will also benefit the country in many ways in the long run,” His Royal Highness said in his speech at the forum “Strengthening and Enhancing Human Rights Towards Leaving No One Behind” in conjunction with Human Rights Day (10th Dec.).
The forum was held with the participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Legal Affairs Division in the Prime Minister’s Department, United Nations in Malaysia and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM).
His Royal Highness also welcomed the launch by SUHAKAM of an advocacy brief in the Malay language towards ending child marriage in Malaysia and stressed that children should be in schools and not robs of their childhood and right to education.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir in his video message stressed that the celebration is reflective of the Government’s commitment to uphold and promote human rights for all.
He said, Malaysia will continue advancing and mainstreaming human rights and will undertake a human rights-based approach, in accordance with its national laws, international human rights obligations and SDGs.
“This is pertinent especially during the pandemic as human rights cannot be an afterthought, it should facilitate in building resilience in facing crisis. As a member of the UN Human Rights Council, Malaysia will continue to work closely and constructively with all partners to realise its membership priorities. “On the international front, Malaysia will strengthen its global efforts to address the plight of the Palestinians and Rohingyas,” he said.
Ms. Karima El Korri, UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam in her opening remarks highlighted four key directions for Malaysia to build a future of shared prosperity and sustainability.
She said, firstly is on the ratification of outstanding human rights treaties and secondly, to address the gaps in education, health, and wider living standards for vulnerable groups, including refugees and migrants. She then highlighted the empowerment of women and girls and their protection from all forms of gender-based violence. Finally, importance should also be placed on the human rights dimensions of climate change and the wider environmental issues.
She noted that in July this year, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution recognising the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a human right.
Human Rights Day 2022 also marks the beginning of a year-long global campaign to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 2023, the milestone document that proclaimed the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth or another status.
SUHAKAM Chairman, Professor Datuk Dr. Rahmat Mohamad shared SUHAKAM’s hope that the Government’s pledges as well as other commitments made would be translated into concrete actions for genuine improvement and enjoyment of human rights in people’s lives, without leaving anyone behind.
The newly appointed Law and Institutional Reform Minister, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said also addressed some key points relating to the reform agendas that are in the pipeline.
The Minister said, she will look into the establishment of a Special Task Force on Institutional Reform, specifically to conduct a cross-sectional study and propose a list of institutional reforms to be tabled in the Cabinet.
“An independent Law Commission in Malaysia will also be formed to propose reform to the necessary laws to ensure their relevance and effectiveness. In line with the spirit of human rights, amendments to the SUHAKAM Act 1999 will be expedited to provide it with the institutional strength it requires to further promote and uphold human rights in Malaysia,” she said.- Malaysia World News
