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Speech
12 August 2022
Secretary General's Message: International Youth Day
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Press Release
09 August 2022
The annual health-care cost of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer in Malaysia exceeds RM 9.65 billion
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Story
09 August 2022
Resident Coordinator's message: Singapore National Day
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Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Malaysia:
Take Action
10 February 2022
Climate Action
Science, Solutions, Solidarity: For a livable future
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Take Action
30 October 2020
Decade of Action
Deliver #ForPeopleForPlanet. We have 10 years to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. The year 2020 kicks off a reaffirmation of the 2030 Agenda. Demonstrate action through ambition, mobilization and game-changing outcomes for people and for the planet.
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Take Action
09 February 2022
The Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving the World
Change starts with you. Seriously. Every human on earth—even the most indifferent, laziest person among us—is part of the solution. Fortunately, there are some super easy things we can adopt into our routines that, if we all do it, will make a big difference.
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Take Action
09 February 2022
Act Now
Towards a net-zero future: The UN Campaign for Individual Action
ActNow is the United Nations campaign for individual action on climate change and sustainability.
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Story
09 August 2022
Resident Coordinator's message: Singapore National Day
On behalf of the United Nations, I extend my congratulations to the people of Singapore on the occasion of Singapore’s National Day.
The UN recognizes Singapore’s remarkable social and economic progress and its role in advancing international cooperation.
We are proud of our longstanding partnership and look forward to continuing to work together to achieve the 2030 Agenda and deliver on the promise of a peaceful and sustainable future for all.
I wish Singapore and its people a joyous celebration of the 57th National Day.
Karima El Korri
United Nations Resident Coordinator in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam
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Story
08 August 2022
Secretary General's Message: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
On this year’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we are highlighting the role of Indigenous women in preserving and passing on traditional knowledge.
Indigenous women are knowledge keepers of traditional food systems and medicines.
They are champions of Indigenous languages and cultures.
They defend the environment and Indigenous peoples’ human rights.
To build and equitable and sustainable future that leaves no one behind, we must amplify the voices of Indigenous women.
Indigenous traditional knowledge can offer solutions to many of our common challenges.
On my recent visit to Suriname, I learned first-hand how Indigenous peoples are protecting their rainforest and its rich biodiversity.
On this International Day, I call on Member States to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to promote Indigenous traditional knowledge for the benefit of all.
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Story
08 August 2022
My Message from Hiroshima
On Saturday, I proudly stood with Japan’s Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, and the people of Hiroshima in memory of an unprecedented catastrophe.
Seventy-seven years ago, nuclear weapons were dropped on the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Tens of thousands of women, children and men were killed in the blink of an eye, incinerated in a hellish fire. Buildings turned to dust. The cities’ beautiful rivers ran with blood.
Those who survived were cursed with a radioactive legacy, stalked by health problems, and subjected to lifelong stigma because of the nuclear bombing.
I had the great honour of meeting with a group of those survivors — the hibakusha, whose numbers grow smaller each year. They told me with unflinching bravery what they witnessed on that terrifying day in 1945.
It is time for world leaders to be as clear-eyed as the hibakusha and see nuclear weapons for what they are. Nuclear weapons make no sense. They cannot deliver safety, protection or security. By design, they deliver only death and destruction.
Three-quarters of a century have passed since mushroom clouds swelled above Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Since then, humanity has endured a Cold War, decades of absurd brinksmanship, and several terrifying near-misses that placed humanity within minutes of annihilation.
But even during the depths of the Cold War, nuclear powers made significant reductions in their nuclear arsenals. There was widespread acceptance of the principles against the use, proliferation and testing of nuclear arms.
Today, we are in danger of forgetting the lessons of 1945.
A new arms race is picking up speed, with governments spending hundreds of billions of dollars to upgrade their stockpiles of nuclear arms. Almost 13,000 nuclear weapons are now held in arsenals around the world. Geopolitical crises with grave nuclear undertones are spreading fast, from the Middle East, to the Korean peninsula, to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Once again, humanity is playing with a loaded gun. We are one mistake, one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from Armageddon.
Leaders must stop knocking on doomsday’s door and take the nuclear option off the table for good.
It is unacceptable for states in possession of nuclear weapons to admit the possibility of nuclear war, which would spell the end of humanity.
By the same token, countries with nuclear weapons must commit to the “no first use” of those weapons. They must also assure States that do not have nuclear weapons that they will not use — or threaten to use — nuclear weapons against them, and be transparent throughout. Nuclear saber-rattling must stop.
In the end, there is only one solution to the nuclear threat: not to have nuclear weapons at all. This means opening every avenue of dialogue, diplomacy and negotiation to ease tensions and eliminate these deadly weapons of mass destruction.
We are seeing fresh signs of hope in New York, where the world has come together for the Tenth Review Conference on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The Treaty is one of the main reasons why nuclear weapons have not been used since 1945. It contains legally binding commitments to achieve nuclear disarmament, and can be a powerful catalyst for disarmament — the only way to eliminate these horrendous weapons once and for all.
And in June, members of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons met for the first time to develop a roadmap towards a world free of these doomsday devices.
We can no longer accept the presence of weapons that hang by a slender thread over humanity’s future.
It is time to heed the timeless message of the hibakusha: “No more Hiroshimas! No more Nagasakis!”
It is time to proliferate peace.
Together, step by step, let’s wipe these weapons off the face of the earth.
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Story
09 August 2022
Inviting young people to YELL about the environment
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with Amanah Lestari Alam (ALAM) today launched Phase 2 of the Youth Environment Living Labs (YELL), to reimagine youth participation in climate and environmental action across Malaysia.
“Young people are the most vulneable group when it comes to climate change, but their voices have been ignored for far too long. I hope to see more inclusive and transparent children and youth participation in decision-making processes,” said Mogesh Sababathy, 24, youth climate advocate.
The event celebrated the completion of Phase 1 of YELL in 2021, while highlighting opportunities as it entered the next phase. In Phase 2, youth-led environmental groups are invited to participate in developing narratives on climate change that is rooted in local, indigenous and traditional knowledge alongside impactful projects that respond to community-based environmental needs.
“Children, especially those from poor communities will bear the biggest brunt of climate change. Children are also the most determined to take urgent action to undo the damage. Climate change is not only happening in distant polar ice caps. Climate change is happening here, where we are now, and our stories must reflect that. YELL is an essential and welcome platform for young people to draw attention to the lived realities they face in their homes and communities” said Amanda Bissex, Representative a.i. for UNICEF in Malaysia.
The Change for Climate report released in 2020 found that Malaysian youth are eager to act on climate and environmental issues. However, some gaps remain, such as the lack of local narratives and local entry points that can help young people take their first steps in environmental action. From consultation with young people at the inception of YELL, it was found that youth-oriented environmental programmes are largely focused on doing, without much space for documentation, learning, and reflection. Green careers remain unpopular due to perceived low viability. Youth-led environmental organizations also struggle with issues of sustainability.
“The genesis of YELL is for young people to have a platform to express their aspirations. We hope that YELL will empower youth to engage positively on climate change issues, rethink ways to raise awareness, act on climate issues, and contribute to local solutions,” said Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.
YELL aims to strengthen the ecosystem of youth environmental leaders through capacity building for evidence-based advocacy and through work exposure and skills-building opportunities. Partners are invited to work together to provide skills and opportunities for youth leaders.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between UNDP and Amanah Lestari Alam (ALAM), an organization set up by Bank Pembangunan Malaysia with a mission to transform mindsets and change behaviors of Malaysians through environmental education. Together with UNICEF, YELL will be a flagship initiative under the MOU, with the purpose to strengthen youth-led climate action.
YELL has also embarked on a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to engage rural youth on environmental entrepreneurship projects through the Social Entrepreneurship for Rural Youths (SERY) initiative. Additionally, YELL is working with Impact Malaysia on building local awareness of climate change and environmental action among youth from across the country.
“We believe that educating young people creates lasting impact, not just to the individual but to the community as well – like engraving in stone. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and this MOU we have signed with YELL will enhance our efforts as a team to create a more sustainable environment” said Datuk Ali Tan Sri Abdul Kadir, Chairman of Amanah Lestari Alam.
The launch event held at Rimba Ilmu, Universiti Malaya included an exhibition featuring achievements from YELL Phase 1 that began in July 2021. The exhibition featured #BumiBelia Stories Competition, stories from the field, and highlights the initiatives and actions of members from the YELL Network across Malaysia. There was also a networking session discussing opportunities for participating in YELL Phase 2. The event concluded with a learning session on living labs at the Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden jointly conducted by the host, Rimba Ilmu, and the UNDP Accelerator Lab Malaysia.
More information about YELL and to get involved: https://yell.my/
YELL Phase 1 (2021) brought together a network of over 200 entities across diverse sectors in support of climate and environmental action, while developing directories, toolkits and resources to support young environmental heroes. In YELL Phase 2 (from 2022), YELL will provide seed funding for citizen science and action learning projects, support green careers and skill-building, and work with young people to (re)discover local and traditional knowledge.
YELL is being piloted in Malaysia with the intention to scale across Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, forming a cross-country network whose actions for climate and the environment are rooted in the values, cultural norms, and local/traditional ecological knowledge of this region.
In April 2022, YELL was selected as one of three global winners of the UNICEF-UNDP Green Shark Challenge, a global challenge designed to unleash the creativity, experience, and skills of UN staff to respond to global environmental challenges.
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children visit https://www.unicef.org/malaysia/. Follow UNICEF on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
About UNDP
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.
For more information about UNDP and its work, visit: www.my.undp.org
Follow UNDP on Twitter and Facebook
About ALAM
ALAM is a national initiative with the mission to transform the mind-set and change the behaviours of Malaysians on the environment. ALAM aims to create awareness, educate on the change and instil whistle blowing culture on environment by collaborating with the public sectors, private sectors and civil societies, in addition to advocating policy by working with and providing a meaningful bridge between industry players and policy makers for improved governance and impactful delivery of initiatives.
For more information about ALAM and its work, follow ALAM on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
Media contacts
Rachel Choong
Communications Officer (Media)
UNICEF Malaysia
Tel: +60122932690
Email: rchoong@unicef.org
Lalitha Monisha
UNDP Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam
Tel: +6011 26155049
Email: lalitha@flowcommsasia.com
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Story
03 August 2022
Crouching tiger, hidden treasure
By UNDP Ecosystems & Biodiversity. Read the original article here
A century ago, there were approximately 100,000 wild tigers in their various natural habitats worldwide; that number has decreased to around 3,500 today, with three out of nine subspecies of wild tigers declared extinct within the last 70 years.
At present, tigers are under severe pressure from a variety of interlinked threats: poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, loss of prey species, disease, roadkill, and habitat destruction, to name just a few. The challenge is exacerbated by the interrelationships between threats and their overlapping timeframes. In the short term, the illegal wildlife trade has the greatest potential to crater the tiger population, whereas the long-term survival of the tiger will depend on cohering fragmented tiger habitats (or rehabilitating adjacent degraded ones) into a functioning whole.
Optimally, these tactics are symbiotic - interdicting the illegal wildlife trade maximizes the potential for tiger survival in the near-term, while preserving habitat increases opportunities for accessing prey and improves the probability of mating and giving birth to future generations. Crucially, both aspects of the strategy require a great deal of public- community partnership, and local community involvement and buy-in to achieve success.
Stronger together
The Central Forest Spine (CFS) of Peninsular Malaysia is widely recognized for its extraordinarily rich biodiversity and ecosystems, including some of the last remaining wild populations of the endangered Malayan tiger.
The Improving Connectivity in the Central Forest Spine Landscape (IC-CFS) project is a collaborative effort between the Malaysian Government and international bodies to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. With funding from Global Environment Facility (GEF) and support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the project is working to restore contiguous forest landscapes in Central Forest Spine. An integral part of the project is targeted support to wildlife enforcement systems. Specifically, the project is improving the wildlife crime intelligence system through the integration of wildlife enforcement operations to protect tigers and reduce wildlife crime in Malaysia.
Working across three landscapes in Perak, Pahang, and Johor, the broader ecosystem is linked by connecting fragmented forest areas through the establishment of ecological corridors. This initiative is crucial for the preservation of the unique Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni), a critically endangered species at dire risk of extinction.
Extraordinary measures
According to the First National Tiger Survey, conducted from 2016 to 2020 by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia, in collaboration with local NGOs, the Malayan tiger population today is less than 200.
Without extraordinary actions, Malaysia is expected to lose this species within the next five to ten years.
In Peninsular Malaysia, illegal poaching and wildlife trafficking are among the main factors in the decline of local tiger populations. High demand for local wildlife on the black market - including the Malayan Tiger - involves local and international hunters in wildlife trafficking activities. The Malayan tiger is valued for its individual parts (including claws, fangs, heads, bones, flesh, organs, and skin), which are sold as fashion accessories, exotic delicacies, and traditional medicine.
But with project help, local communities and authorities are fighting back: between January 2019 and June 2021, more than 1,000 tiger traps were destroyed by DWNP and partners from the Forestry Department, Royal Malaysian Police, military veterans, State Park Corporations, Orang Asli communities, and NGOs.
Complementarily, through the IC-CFS project, FDPM and DWNP - in collaboration with the Malaysia Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MYCAT) - have sought to protect the habitat of the Malayan tiger by conducting regular patrols and monitoring encroached areas and illegal hunting hotspots, especially in the Sungai Yu area of Merapoh, Pahang.
The Sungai Yu area is one of the most important ecological corridors that connects the forest at Banjaran Titiwangsa with the forest landscape of Taman Negara National Park, which also happens to be the main habitat of the Malayan tiger.
More than 160 snares have been destroyed around the Sungai Yu ecological corridor since the first CAT Walk programe in 2010.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has also collaborated with DWNP to conduct patrols and monitoring in the Belum and Temengor Forest Reserves, which brought about a 90% decline in hunting activities.
Coordinated Action
Mirroring the effort to create a contiguous forest, partnerships to fight wildlife crime need to be equally strategic and coordinated.
The IC-CFS initiative is led by a network of implementing agencies from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (KETSA), Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (FDPM), Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and State Forestry Departments. Together, the coalition has collaborated with non-governmental organizations, businesses and communities to foment change across the local environmental landscape.
The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and State Forestry Departments are spearheading aspects of the project that hinge on the implementation of sustainable land use in forest landscapes.
In particular, these rely on forms of forest management that support and preserve the area’s biodiversity and ecosystem services. This takes on special urgency against a backdrop of habitat fragmentation.
Intuitively, a conservation regime comprised of 50 siloed 1ha reserves has less utility than a single 50ha protected area. But we live in a world where siloed habitat is already the norm across most of the Malayan tiger’s natural range - globally, wild tigers have lost almost 93% of their natural habitat.
The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) is a key co-leader in wildlife conservation. DWNP supports the IC-CFS project through their protection, management, and enforcement efforts related to wildlife.
Partnering for wildlife
In the wake of the COVID pandemic, and with reports from around the world of increased poaching by communities that have lost their jobs and livelihoods, local communities and rangers on the ground have an opportunity to reiterate the importance of wildlife and ecosystem protection.
Building on the work of the IC-CFS project in building partnerships and cultivating conservationists in communities, local rangers are front and centre in project efforts, serving as valued allies in conservation.
Reducing crime
In partnership with DWNP, the IC-CFS team utilises Spatial Monitoring and Reporting (SMART) tools for enhanced monitoring of patrolling within the pilot sites for efficient intelligence gathering, species identification, route-mapping, and recognizing smuggling techniques through forensics. Project officers are actively involved in integrated enforcement activities against local forest and wildlife crimes through collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), NGOs, and local communities under Operasi Bersepadu Khazanah – ‘Integrated Operation Treasure’ in English.
The IC-CFS project has supported improvements to Standard Operating Procedures concerning arrests, handling of seized items, investigations, and prosecutions by state park authorities. The application of intelligence technologies such as real-time surveillance systems and intelligence analysis software for wildlife cybercrime at pilot sites allows for better threat detection.
Empowering Officers
Since April 2022, Forestry and State Park Officers have been empowered to enforce the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 via arrest of offenders, and searching and seizing illegally killed wildlife and their parts. Trained officers participate in integrated enforcement activities such as special operations targeting local poaching activities.
This multi-agency joint response facilitates more frequent wildlife enforcement actions within the CFS landscape. These efforts have led to an increase in prosecutions of wildlife crimes in Malaysia, while the sustainable land use in forest landscapes aspect of the project ensures local benefits and buy-in.
Preserving a future with wildlife
These multi-party collaborations - with government agencies, NGOs, and local communities, and the FDPM - jointly protect and preserve the forest landscape in Malaysia. This unity supports and contributes to conservation efforts of the Malayan tiger, ensuring that it remains a national symbol for future generations.
For more information on the IC-CFS project, visit the project website here or follow the project on Instagram here.
For more information on UNDP Malaysia, visit here.
Footnotes Story by: Andrea Egan, IC-CFS project team and Dato’ Hj Zahari Ibrahim, National Project Director of Improving Connectivity: Central Forest Spine (IC-CFS) and Deputy Director-General of Forestry at Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia / Photos: UNDP Malaysia
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Press Release
09 August 2022
The annual health-care cost of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer in Malaysia exceeds RM 9.65 billion
"Even without the additional threat posed by COVID-19, noncommunicable diseases are a significant health burden and public health challenge in our country. And while they are not an acute emergency or rapidly-moving infectious disease, they are equally devastating to individuals, societies and economies," said Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr Noor Hisham bin Abdullah, Director General of Health Malaysia.
NCDs are the main cause of death and disability in Malaysia. It is estimated that 1 in 5 adult Malaysians are living with diabetes, 1 in 3 are living with hypertension, and nearly half are overweight or obese (National Health and Morbidity Survey, 2019). The growing prevalence of NCDs is placing an increased strain on the country's health system.
"We saw that among the most vulnerable to the virus are people with underlying health conditions, including NCDs like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer, who have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease and are more likely to die from COVID-19," continued Dr Hisham.
"WHO continues to support the government of Malaysia in its efforts to address the growing challenge of NCDs through supporting addressing the risk factors, encouraging adoption of healthy lifestyles and strengthening primary care for early diagnosis and improved management of NCDs,” said Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative in Malaysia.
The report released today utilized data from the year 2017. The secured data were largely restricted to the public sector, and extrapolations to the private sector were based on assumptions. While the cost estimates are based on the best available data, they no doubt underestimate the real cost of the direct health-care costs associated with NCDs in Malaysia.
Aside from the health-care costs, previous studies have estimated the economic loss due to absenteeism, presenteeism in the workplace and the premature death of the working age population as upwards of RM 8.91 billion. In addition, the cost of disability and loss of healthy life years was estimated to be around RM 100.79 billion (The Impact of Noncommunicable Diseases and Their Risk Factors on Malaysia's Gross Domestic Product, 2020).
This information can be used to identify cost-effective ways to prevent NCDs, reduce the costs of NCD management, and prioritize the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Dr Hisham calls on collaboration to have publicly informed, evidence-based policies that could support the change in Malaysian's behaviour.
“The problem of NCDs in Malaysia is also compounded by the fact that the country has a rapidly ageing population in which the failure to address adequately the challenge of NCDs could significantly impact health-care costs and economic well-being of the community,” added Dr Rabindra.
Malaysia is expected to reach the status of an aged nation by 2030, with people over the age of 65 making up more than 14% of the population. With the population ageing, more and more people are expected to live with NCDs in the long term. Given this demographic change, NCDs' health and economic burden can also be expected to increase over time.
"Increasing awareness about NCDs and their management among the general population and those at risk now will contribute to increased longevity and healthy ageing of Malaysian through a reduction of premature mortality due to NCDs and their complications" said Dr Rabindra.
The report can be downloaded here.
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Press Release
10 August 2022
New employers guide will support Malaysian rubber industry in fight against forced labour
It provides practical guidance to employers in the rubber industry in Malaysia, particularly those employing migrant workers, on how to identify risks of forced labour in the recruitment, employment and sourcing practices, and how to effectively address, prevent and eliminate these risks.
A new guide will strengthen the efforts of employers to prevent and eliminate forced labour in the Malaysian rubber industry. The guide, entitled “Addressing, preventing and eliminating forced labour in the rubber industry in Malaysia: A practical guide for Malaysian employers ” was launched by the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, YB Datuk Hajah Zuraida Kamaruddin at an event in Kuala Lumpur today.
The guide is produced by the Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and through the support of the European Union.
It will assist employers in the Malaysian rubber industry, in particularly those employing migrant workers - on how to identify risks of forced labour in recruitment, employment, and sourcing practices, and how to effectively address, prevent and eliminate these risks.
“This guide forms part of a comprehensive effort to support the Malaysian rubber industry to implement the forced labour policy. Our goal is to foster a more developed and driven future for our beloved Keluarga Malaysia,” said Minister YB Datuk Hajah Zuraida Kamaruddin. “I am confident that the guide will help strengthen efforts to improve the industry's reputation and the nation's standing.”
The guide will help companies understand what forced labour is as well as the international standards, national laws and policies relating to it. It contains guiding principles, due diligence and responsible business conduct, good practices, frequently asked questions and answers on preventing forced labour as well as practical information on developing company policies.
“To avoid forced labour from occurring, this guide will act as a resource to protect employees' rights while supporting Malaysia's business community to eventually enhance workers' productivity,” said Malaysian Rubber Council Chairman, YB Dr Daroyah Alwi.
Supporting the government's mission to educate and raise awareness of forced labour, the Sustainability Division of the MRC in collaboration with the ILO has carried out various awareness raising initiatives. In addition to the guide, a video and training programme for rubber industry stakeholders will also be launched.
Panudda Boonpala, Deputy Regional Director of the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific remarked, “By investing in decent work and an enabling environment for sustainable enterprises, Malaysia has a unique opportunity to create more and better jobs, increase productivity and skills, and support growth across the rubber glove supply chain. This will ultimately increase its competitiveness in global markets.”
The initiative is a joint effort by the government, businesses, labour unions, civil society, and the ILO. It is in support of Malaysia's first National Action Plan on Forced Labour as well as Malaysia’s participation as an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder country to accelerate efforts to end forced labour.
ILO and the European Union are supporting the Malaysian rubber industry through the ‘Sustainable Supply Chains to Build Forward Better’ project. This sets out to strengthen dialogue and promote decent work in Malaysia’s rubber glove supply chain.
“Promoting decent work in global supply chains is a priority of the European Union. We are proud to support Malaysia’s efforts to eradicate forced labour and to improve the working conditions of Malaysians and migrant workers alike,” said His Excellency Michalis Rokas, Ambassador of the European Union to Malaysia. “Apart from remedying obvious human rights issues, these actions will increase Malaysia’s international reputation as a rubber industry leader, facilitate the export of its goods in compliance with international standards and prepare for the upcoming EU legislation in this area.”
About MRC
The Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC) , formerly known as Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council, was incorporated on 14 April 2000 under the Companies Act 1965 as a company limited by guarantee under the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC). MRC is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities. MRC is tasked with undertaking market promotion of quality Malaysian rubber and rubber products in world markets. MRC has overseas offices in the US, China, India, Europe and the Middle East. The USA office was set up in Washington DC in February 2001 and serves as a centre of information on Malaysian rubber and rubber products for the American public and end-users. MRC has two offices in China – the Shanghai office was set up in September 2011 and the Guangzhou office in April 2016 with the responsibility to facilitate and assist Malaysian companies seeking to grow their business in China. MRC India was set up in Mumbai in May 2016 to facilitate the export of Malaysian rubber and rubber products and to assist Malaysian companies to grow their business in India. MRC's Europe office is in London which plays an important role to facilitate exports of Malaysian rubber products into Europe by monitoring developments and changes in policies and new regulations concerning the importation and use of rubber products in Europe. MRC’s Middle East office was established in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in September 2021 with the intent to explore and facilitate potential joint ventures, foreign investment and R&D collaborations in the MENA region. For further information please contact: Wan Laila, Tel: 0193314145
‘Aisyah ‘Izzati, Tel: 0177391219
Malaysian Rubber Council
Strategic Communications Division
Siu Ming Lee
National Project Coordinator
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Sustainable Supply Chains to Build Forward Better
Email: siuming@ilo.org
The guide is produced by the Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and through the support of the European Union.
It will assist employers in the Malaysian rubber industry, in particularly those employing migrant workers - on how to identify risks of forced labour in recruitment, employment, and sourcing practices, and how to effectively address, prevent and eliminate these risks.
“This guide forms part of a comprehensive effort to support the Malaysian rubber industry to implement the forced labour policy. Our goal is to foster a more developed and driven future for our beloved Keluarga Malaysia,” said Minister YB Datuk Hajah Zuraida Kamaruddin. “I am confident that the guide will help strengthen efforts to improve the industry's reputation and the nation's standing.”
The guide will help companies understand what forced labour is as well as the international standards, national laws and policies relating to it. It contains guiding principles, due diligence and responsible business conduct, good practices, frequently asked questions and answers on preventing forced labour as well as practical information on developing company policies.
“To avoid forced labour from occurring, this guide will act as a resource to protect employees' rights while supporting Malaysia's business community to eventually enhance workers' productivity,” said Malaysian Rubber Council Chairman, YB Dr Daroyah Alwi.
Supporting the government's mission to educate and raise awareness of forced labour, the Sustainability Division of the MRC in collaboration with the ILO has carried out various awareness raising initiatives. In addition to the guide, a video and training programme for rubber industry stakeholders will also be launched.
Panudda Boonpala, Deputy Regional Director of the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific remarked, “By investing in decent work and an enabling environment for sustainable enterprises, Malaysia has a unique opportunity to create more and better jobs, increase productivity and skills, and support growth across the rubber glove supply chain. This will ultimately increase its competitiveness in global markets.”
The initiative is a joint effort by the government, businesses, labour unions, civil society, and the ILO. It is in support of Malaysia's first National Action Plan on Forced Labour as well as Malaysia’s participation as an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder country to accelerate efforts to end forced labour.
ILO and the European Union are supporting the Malaysian rubber industry through the ‘Sustainable Supply Chains to Build Forward Better’ project. This sets out to strengthen dialogue and promote decent work in Malaysia’s rubber glove supply chain.
“Promoting decent work in global supply chains is a priority of the European Union. We are proud to support Malaysia’s efforts to eradicate forced labour and to improve the working conditions of Malaysians and migrant workers alike,” said His Excellency Michalis Rokas, Ambassador of the European Union to Malaysia. “Apart from remedying obvious human rights issues, these actions will increase Malaysia’s international reputation as a rubber industry leader, facilitate the export of its goods in compliance with international standards and prepare for the upcoming EU legislation in this area.”
About MRC
The Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC) , formerly known as Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council, was incorporated on 14 April 2000 under the Companies Act 1965 as a company limited by guarantee under the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC). MRC is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities. MRC is tasked with undertaking market promotion of quality Malaysian rubber and rubber products in world markets. MRC has overseas offices in the US, China, India, Europe and the Middle East. The USA office was set up in Washington DC in February 2001 and serves as a centre of information on Malaysian rubber and rubber products for the American public and end-users. MRC has two offices in China – the Shanghai office was set up in September 2011 and the Guangzhou office in April 2016 with the responsibility to facilitate and assist Malaysian companies seeking to grow their business in China. MRC India was set up in Mumbai in May 2016 to facilitate the export of Malaysian rubber and rubber products and to assist Malaysian companies to grow their business in India. MRC's Europe office is in London which plays an important role to facilitate exports of Malaysian rubber products into Europe by monitoring developments and changes in policies and new regulations concerning the importation and use of rubber products in Europe. MRC’s Middle East office was established in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in September 2021 with the intent to explore and facilitate potential joint ventures, foreign investment and R&D collaborations in the MENA region. For further information please contact: Wan Laila, Tel: 0193314145
‘Aisyah ‘Izzati, Tel: 0177391219
Malaysian Rubber Council
Strategic Communications Division
Siu Ming Lee
National Project Coordinator
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Sustainable Supply Chains to Build Forward Better
Email: siuming@ilo.org
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Press Release
03 July 2021
New MIT study says United Nations Pause Campaign slows spread of life-threatening misinformation
A major part of that work is the UN’s Pause campaign, which encourages people to pause to check the validity of any information they share. Now, a new study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) says the Pause campaign can bring about the behavioural change needed to stop the spread of misinformation.
The MIT study, conducted in the UK and the US, found that the simple act of pausing to question the origin, credibility, relevance and accuracy of any information before sharing it on phones, computers and social media platforms, significantly reduced people’s propensity to share misinformation. In the study, participants who saw Pause campaign content were notably less likely to share fake headlines.
“The monumental task of tackling misinformation belongs to all of us. It is about how we can come together to drive social change, shifting behavioural norms and tapping into people’s sense of solidarity to keep each other safe,” said Melissa Fleming, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications.
“The MIT study shows that pausing before sharing is not only possible but also the responsible thing to do, especially in an age where it has become hard to separate the truth from the lies.”
The Pause campaign, created in collaboration with Purpose, a social impact agency, is part of the wider Verified initiative launched by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in May 2020 to deliver trusted COVID-19-related medical and science information and advice, and stop the spread of misinformation. According to the World Health Organization, in the first three months of 2020 alone, nearly 6,000 people were hospitalized because of COVID-19 misinformation.
The Pause campaign, which reached nearly 1 billion people in 2020, is redoubling its efforts to empower more people to share information responsibly. The new phase of the campaign asks the world to take the #PledgetoPause and flood the Internet with the pause symbol.
Guided by research, the campaign is built on the premise that by interrupting, even for a few seconds, the impulse to share something we see -- an urge often fuelled by emotions such as excitement, anger, sadness, elation, and even altruism -- we allow ourselves time to think more critically. Better judgement prevails and fewer bogus claims are circulated.
In the words of the UN Secretary-General: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the wrong information can be deadly. Take the pledge to pause and help stop the spread of misinformation.”
ABOUT VERIFIED
Verified is a United Nations initiative, in collaboration with Purpose, that aims to empower people around the world with science-based information during the Covid-19 response. Working with UN agencies, influencers, civil society, businesses, and social media platforms, Verified creates and distributes trusted, accurate information and encourages consumers to change their media consumption practices to reduce and stop the spread of misinformation online. Website: https://shareverified.com/en/
ABOUT PAUSE CAMPAIGN
Launched as a part of the UN Verified initiative, the Pause Campaign draws on research from psychologists, neuroscientists and behavioural scientists whose studies indicate that pausing to reflect before sharing can significantly help to reduce the spread of unverified and misleading information. The overall campaign, which was launched a year ago, challenges people to break the habit of sharing shocking or emotive content impulsively and without questioning its accuracy. Website: https://pledgetopause.org
CONTACTS
UN Department of Global Communications
Devi Palanivelu | palanivelu@un.org | +1 917 495 5424
Purpose
Jennifer Minard | jennifer.minard@purpose.com | +44 787 242 7706
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Press Release
15 June 2021
Strengthening Resilience and Ending Vulnerability in Small Island Developing States
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face a shared set of geographical, environmental, economic, and social challenges, and suffer from unique development needs and extreme vulnerability. Frequent exposures to natural hazards and disasters intensified by climate change and external economic shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are detrimental to these island nations.
The Joint SDG Fund announces a call for proposals focusing on strengthening resilience and ending the vulnerabilities of SIDS to accelerate the SDGs. The overall funding envelope for this Call is US$30 million. All SIDS countries are eligible to receive funding, including countries previously funded in the Joint SDG Fund’s existing portfolios. Intended to be catalytic, funding will support targeting programmatic solutions of 2 years or less, with a budget of US$1 million per country. Multi-Country Offices will be eligible for funding envelopes corresponding to the countries and populations they serve and be reviewed on case by case basis.
This Call for Proposals will support a new generation of transformative, Government-led, integrated initiatives that leverage the best expertise and resources possible to address complex problems and accelerate progress towards the SDGs.
“We must work together to ensure that the [Decade of Action] delivers for Small Island Developing States. In addressing climate change, enhanced ambition and action are both a priority and a driver of the Decade . . . we need small island developing States leadership more than ever.” - United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed
Governments face challenges in accessing financing for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) implementation and funding modern and resilient social protection systems. Vulnerable groups have been proportionally hit harder by the recent economic crisis. Furthermore, the skills-gap and the impacts of COVID-19 has resulted in higher levels of youth unemployment.
Sustainable growth will require economic diversification and higher participation from a skillful workforce. To prevent disasters, advance the economy and enable the public sector to deliver services to people and enterprises, access to modern innovative technologies, led by digitalization are critical.
In line with the implementation of UN reform agenda, UN Joint Programmes supported by the Fund will demonstrate a new generation of collaboration for results, embedded in the UN Cooperation Frameworks and committed to enhanced national ownership, leadership, and capacities. The strength in partnerships builds resilience and reduces vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States to leave no one behind.
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Press Release
07 June 2021
Media Statement by UN in Malaysia
Throughout the pandemic, the UN in Malaysia has been strongly advocating for the inclusion of migrants, refugees and undocumented persons in the COVID-19 response and the National COVID-19 Immunization Programme. These vulnerable groups should also have meaningful access to information so that they are aware of the vaccination plans and where to access the services. The public health logic in a pandemic is that nobody is safe unless everybody is safe.
Furthermore, in press conferences in February and April 2021, the Government has repeated that those without documents will not be detained during vaccination. The UN commends this inclusive approach to keep the entire population safe.
The UN in Malaysia has also discussed with the Government that in order to encourage undocumented people to come forward for vaccination, guarantees from repercussions such as temporary exemption or moratorium from detention and deportation are important. A crackdown on migrants during this critical public health crisis could seriously undermine the public health objective and lead to adverse results.
The UN continues to offer to collaborate with the Government and other stakeholders to help ensure all individuals, regardless of legal status, are included in vaccination plans without repercussions.
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