On World Refugee Day, we recognize the challenges faced by refugee children globally, who represent over 40 per cent of the world's displaced population. Of the 41,000 refugee children of school-going age registered with UNHCR in Malaysia, none of them have access to formal education. Only 34 per cent have access to informal education through alternative learning centres. This lack of access to formal education is also experienced by many stateless children in Malaysia.Education is a fundamental right, yet too many refugee and stateless children are not in school. Excluded from the education system, children are left without recognized credentials, social networks, mentors, or peer support. Additionally, their lack of legal status also puts them at risk of arrest and detention. As of September 2023, more than 1,400 girls and boys were reportedly held in immigration detention centres in Malaysia. As a result, refugee and stateless children struggle to live dignified lives, stunting their ability to grow to their full potential. All children, regardless of status, should have the opportunity to learn in school, in safety and without fear.The Convention on the Rights of the Child encompasses four interconnected and fundamental principles of non-discrimination, upholding the best interest of the child, the right to life, survival and development, and respect for the views of the child. As we commemorate World Refugee Day, let's remember that every child, no matter their circumstances, has a right to essential support and services like healthcare, education, and social protection. Together, we can work towards strengthening inclusive national systems that benefit all children in line with the Madani Government’s Ihsan, or Compassion principle.

Read the original statement hereUNICEF commends the government’s welcome steps to not proceed with proposed amendments relating to Malaysia-born stateless children, and foundlings. This decision reflects a responsiveness to public concerns and underscores a commitment to upholding the rights and welfare of vulnerable populations, especially children. UNICEF acknowledges and supports such actions that prioritize the protection of children's rights, aligning with international conventions such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child.It is equally important to recognize that the remaining regressive amendments will impact certain groups of children and pose a threat to their fundamental rights. The proposed amendments, if implemented, risk depriving these children of essential rights to healthcare, education, and family unity. To ensure the protection of children's rights and uphold the principles of equality and inclusivity, it is imperative that these remaining amendments undergo comprehensive review by a Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC). This process will enable a thorough examination of the potential impact of the amendments and allow for the consideration of diverse perspectives and stakeholder input. By subjecting these amendments to full parliamentary scrutiny, we can uphold the integrity of the legislative process and make the best decision for all children in Malaysia.UNICEF stands ready to support the government in this process, building on partnership and joint commitment for realizing children's rights, for an inclusive society where no child is left behind.

  Kuala Lumpur, 24 November – KL Tower was lit up in orange today to celebrate this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (IDEVAW) and 16 Days of Activism, beginning Saturday the 25th of November. The evening launch event, organised by The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Malaysia, brought together key stakeholders in the arena towards ending Gender Based Violence (GBV) to collectively and symbolically launch the global call to end violence against women in Malaysia. Present at the event were Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Women, Family & Community Development (KPWKM), Karima El Korri, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei Darussalam, Dr. Asa Torkelsson, UNFPA Malaysia’s Country Representative, Datuk Dr Maziah Che Yusoff, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and Dr Wan Nur Ibtisam Binti Wan Ismail, Director General of the Department of Women’s Development, alongside other key representatives from government, academia, and civil society. In her welcoming remarks, Dr Asa Torkelsson began by highlighting the dark reality still faced by millions of women and girls today: “Violence against women and girls sadly remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations that continues to happen. According to the United Nations, globally, 736 million women - that is almost 1 in 3 - have been subjected to physical or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their lifetime.” She acknowledged the strides that Malaysia had made so far to address social, legislative and enforcement gaps in the battle against gender-based violence, and highlighted Malaysia’s regional successes including being the first Asian country to introduce a specific law on domestic violence (the Domestic Violence Act 1944), and being the first to develop the trailblazing One Stop Crisis Center (OSSC) to support victims of gender-based violence. In the Minister’s keynote speech, YB Dato’ Sri Nancy Shukri reminded the audience that the impacts of violence against women were not limited to women, but had widespread societal ramifications. Not only were survivors less likely to participate meaningfully in their communities or labour force, she revealed that gender based violence also had the ability to break down family structures and perpetuate generational cycles of violence. Ultimately, the stunted development of women and their families can impact the socio-economic development of communities and countries as a whole. “UN Women estimated that the global cost of violence against women amounted to a whopping 1.5 trillion US dollars, stemming from loss of employment and productivity, and major resources required for social services, the justice system, health-care agencies and employers. As a nation or as a global community, we are all worse off when women are disempowered,” she said. In line with Malaysia’s international commitments to tackling violence and discrimination against women, the Minister described several ongoing government initiatives to address domestic violence: “Operationally, a Committee on Addressing Domestic Violence was established as an institutionalised multi-stakeholder platform for implementing and monitoring concerted efforts to address domestic violence. We are also in the final stages of updating JKM’s Guideline on Handling Domestic Violence Cases, which serves as a reference and guidance to the relevant agencies to coordinate and handle the cases effectively.” The Minister highlighted Malaysia’s recent strides in enacting gender-focused policy, including the Sexual Harassment Act, the Anti-Stalking Section in the Penal Code, and amendments to the Employment Act. She also cited the government’s commitment to gender-responsive budgeting, and lauded the ongoing efforts of dedicated Gender Focal Teams within each Ministry. In line with legislative developments, she hoped to continue launching nationwide sexual harassment awareness roadshows in the new year, especially upon the establishment of the new Anti-Sexual Harassment Tribunal. Lastly, she stressed that addressing violence was a shared responsibility between the government, the private sector and all Malaysians: “We must all play a part in ensuring our workplaces are environments of safety, where there is zero tolerance for harassment or violence of any kind. The private sector has an immense role to play in ensuring that workplace culture proactively evolves to become inclusive, non-discriminatory and in consideration of unpaid care work duties of all employees - female as well as male.” A panel session titled “Identifying and Strategising Key Social and Legislative Investments needed towards ending Violence against Women in Malaysia” was then held, moderated by Tehmina Kaoosji, Independent Broadcast Journalist. The session drew on the expertise and experience of panellistsACP Siti Kamsiah Hassan, Principal Assistant Director, D11 Unit, PDRM, YBrs Dr Wan Nur Ibtisam, Director General, Women’s Department, KPWKM, Tengku Aira Tengku Razif, Assistant Representative, UNFPA Malaysia, and Sumitra Visvanathan, Executive Director, WAO. The launch event concluded with a press conference featuring the Minister Yang Berhormat Dato’ Sri Nancy Shukri, Datuk Dr Maziah Che Yusoff and Dr Wan Nur Ibtisam from the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, alongside Dr Asa Torkelsson and Tengku Aira Tengku Razif representing UNFPA Malaysia. ### View photos from the event here. ABOUT UNFPA The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is an agency under the UN that aims to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. MEDIA ENQUIRIES For further inquiries or any other related media matters, kindly please contact UNFPA Malaysia at malaysia.media@unfpa.org

The United Nations in Malaysia commemorated the 78th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) today in Taman Tugu, Kuala Lumpur. The event, under the theme Act Now on UN Day and Every Day! amplifies the Act Now! campaign, aimed to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals and commit to a healthy planet, an inclusive economy, a just society and a world working together. Leading the commemoration were Ms. Karima El Korri, the UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam, and YB Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. The event witnessed the participation of 160 UN staff and over 150 guests, including government officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives from civil society, youth organizations, religious leaders, academia, the private sector, and the media. In her address, Ms. El Korri underscored the founding purposes and principles of the United Nations upheld in the organization’s Charter, and said: “As we look back on nearly eight decades of commitment to peace, security, human rights, and development, we acknowledge our successes and setbacks. And with unwavering resolve and resilience, the UN stands as a beacon of international unity and a source of hope for people around the world.” The United Nations in Malaysia is comprised of 22 UN agencies of the UN Country Team (UNCT), all working in support of Malaysia's efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. UN Resident Coordinator Karima El Korri said: “Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to globally agreed frameworks is unquestionable. We applaud the nation’s fresh perspective on the economy and society outlined in Malaysia Madani, Ekonomi Madani, and the many macro and local-level initiatives drive the country’s transformation. The establishment of the Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund is a testimony to the government’s commitment to engage all stakeholders. It is also proof of the strong trust in the United Nations as a results-driven partner.” YB Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin extended his congratulations to the UN on its 78th anniversary and reiterated Malaysia's firm commitment to continued engagement with the UN. He stated, "Malaysia reaffirms its dedication to continuing cooperation with the UN and its member states, grounded in the principles of mutual respect and international law, as enshrined in the UN Charter.” We also thank the UN in Malaysia for its continued work supporting the country in reaching its goals for a more sustainable and equitable future. The UN has accompanied us in our journey since independence, and we hope this partnership will continue to prosper.” YB Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin added that Malaysia has always been an active participant in the UN, engaging with the global community through various means, from co-sponsoring resolutions to our continued support of UN peacekeeping missions, with over 800 personnel participating across various missions. Malaysia is also host to UN Global and Regional centres such as the WHO and UNDP Global Service Centres and UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD).  The UN Day event at Taman Tugu also featured the "Act Now!" storytelling session, where UN agencies in Malaysia enlightened the audience about their work in areas such as healthy aging, the care economy, sustainable tourism, immunization for hard-to-reach populations, refugee support, green urban spaces, promoting safe migration, inspiring small and medium-sized enterprises, and empowering children through disaster education. Participants also explored the Taman Tugu trail walks. UN Day, celebrated every year on 24 October, commemorates the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. It amplifies our common agenda and reaffirms the purposes and principles of the UN Charter that have guided us for the past 78 years. -ends-