Human Rights Day Forum 2022: Strengthening and Enhancing Human Rights Towards Leaving No One Behind

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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) commemorated Human Rights Day with a Forum following the theme, “Strengthening and Enhancing Human Rights Towards Leaving No One Behind”.

The Forum was graced with a Royal Address by DYMM Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir. In his address, His Royal Highness emphasised the need to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong opportunities for all, as laid down in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4. His Royal Highness called for a change in 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 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 rob of their childhood and right to education.  

Minister of Foreign Affairs, YB Senator Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir in his video message emphasized that today’s celebration is reflective of the Government’s commitment to uphold and promote human rights for all. 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 adress the plight of the Palestinians and Rohingyas.

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. First of all, on the ratification of outstanding human rights treaties. 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, YBhg. Professor Dato’ Dr. Rahmat bin 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 United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also delivered his remarks to commemorate Human Rights Day via a pre-recorded video at the Forum, highlighting various challenging including the shrinking of civic space, increasing hunger and poverty, the decline of media freedom and safety of journalists, racism, violence against women and girls, as well as climate change.

During the Forum, an interactive panel discussed the interlinkages between human rights and the SDGs. The discussion focused on global and national commitments, focusing on the effectiveness of a human rights-based approach to enhance the impact of SDG progress.

The Forum was moderated by Ms. Suri Kempe, President, Family Frontiers and Founder, Kemban Kolektif and the panel included Mr. Ragunath Kesavan, SUHAKAM’s Commissioner; YBhg. Dato' Prof. Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Professor of Medicine & Infectious Diseases of University Malaya and Commissioner of the Global Commission on Drug Policy; Ms. Azlina Kamal, Education Specialist and Lead at UNICEF Malaysia; and YBhg. Prof. Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria, President Society for the Promotions of SDGs and Senior Fellow at ISIS Malaysia.

The Forum also witnessed the launch of the Malay language version of a report entitled: Towards Ending Child Marriage in Malaysia: Advocacy Brief by SUHAKAM and UNICEF. The English report which was launched in 2021 aims to identify the key drivers of child marriage in Malaysia and provides evidence-based recommendations for the way forward. The advocacy brief touches on the serious long-term consequences of child marriage, especially its impact on the lives and health of those affected. The launch is evident of Malaysia’s commitment in upholding the principles of the Convention of the Rights of the Child and the relevant SDGs, which calls for global action to end child marriage by 2030. The Government of Malaysia has thus far announced its commitment to address the factors of child marriage through the National Strategy Plan in Handling the Causes of Child Marriage (2020-2025).

The newly appointed Law and Institutional Reform Minister, YB Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said also addressed some key points relating to the reform agendas that are in the pipeline. Among others, the Minister 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.

The hybrid Forum was attended by over 500 participants from the Government, diplomatic corps, youth, academia, private sector and Civil Society Organisations. Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948.

Watch the recording of the Forum on YouTube: