Key Issues led to delays in implementing the programme, and where the change in the hierarchy of the MOE has affected the speed of implementation of the programme. In addition, the Commission deferred the expansion of the HRBPS programme in Sabah and Sarawak to 2015 due to the logistical problems encountered by the MOE. In the long run, the Commission would like to strengthen its collaboration with the MOE and work towards introducing human rights education as part of the syllabus in school curriculums. 6. ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION FOR CHILDREN IN DETENTION The issue of unaccompanied children in detention is commonly faced by most countries that open their doors to asylum seekers and refugees. Although Malaysia is not a party to the Convention on Refugees 1951, nonetheless, being a State Party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it is obligated to protect the rights of refugee and asylum-seeking children. In addition, the Committee on the Rights of the Child in its Concluding Observations on Malaysia Report acknowledges that refugee and asylum-seeking children in Malaysia are vulnerable to arrest, detention and deportation. The instances where unaccompanied refugee and asylum-seeking children were placed in detention were also highlighted. These prompted the Committee to call on the Government of Malaysia to take urgent measures to develop a legislative framework for the protection of asylum-seeking and refugee children, particularly unaccompanied children, in line with international standards. It is also imperative that the protection, care and treatment provided for unaccompanied children be based on the entire legal framework specified by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) with particular reference to the principles of nondiscrimination and the best interests of the child. During its visits, the Commission observed that many unaccompanied children, mostly refugee and asylumseeking children, were being detained together with adults in the same cell which not only goes contrary to the principle of separate detention, but also puts children at an increased risk of abuse and ill-treatment. During its visits, the Commission observed that many unaccompanied children, mostly refugee and asylum-seeking children, were being detained together with adults in the same cell which not only goes contrary to the principle of separate detention, but also puts children at an increased risk of abuse and ill-treatment. As such, the Commission sees the need to support the Government in identifying and, where necessary, developing an amicable mechanism to ensure that effective protection and assistance is delivered to unaccompanied children in a systematic, comprehensive and integrated manner that is consistent with the principle of ‘the best interests of the child’. The Commission and several civil society organisations, in endeavouring to address this issue, have been exploring various options for alternatives to detention and looking at best practices in other countries. 11