Executive Summary The Commission also held a RTD on “The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) and Its Impact on Human Rights in Malaysia” subsequent to a memorandum received from several Parliamentarians. Of the 30 chapters of the TPPA, the RTD concentrated on intellectual property rights, labour and dispute settlement which areas would likely to have an impact on human rights. This in addition to the advocacy works continued by the Division relating to National Human Rights Action Plan, the Parliamentary Select Committee on human rights; follow-up actions on the report of the National Inquiry into the land rights of Indigenous Peoples in Malaysia and research on transgender issues. The Law Reform and Treaties Division monitored the country’s implementation of International Treaties under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) The Commission reiterated its calls to the Government to expedite the submission of the State Reports to the relevant Treaty bodies and the withdrawal of the remaining reservations to the 3 treaties rectified. Whilst, the Commission has been consistent in its call to the Government to accede to the remaining 6 international human rights instruments, there have been no further new developments. . To intensify its efforts, several RTDs on ICESCR and CAT were organised by the Commission for the year. Although the responses by the Government with regard to the proposed amendments to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act (HRCMA) were not favourable, the Commission will still continue to pursue the matter as the proposed amendments would further secure the Commission’s independence and direct accountability in compliance with the Paris Principles. In addition to the above, the Commission conducted 17 watching briefs representation to the courts relating to the Government’s obligations under CEDAW, CRC and CRPD for which Malaysia is a party. The Commission hopes to conduct watching briefs in Syariah courts by next year and currently is in discussions with professional bodies and the relevant judicial authorities. While the HRCMA grants the Commission the statutory powers to advise and assist the Government in formulating legislations, the Commission was not consulted in the review of preventive laws such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 (POTA), the National Security Council Act 2015 (NSC) and the proposed amendments to the Child Acts 2001 where issues relating to public safety and the protection of human rights were of concern. Whilst the Commission is mindful that freedom of expression may be prescribed by law, it maintains its call on the Government to repeal the Sedition Act as any restriction must be balanced, proportion and fair and should comply with international norms relating to the right to freedom of expression. 10 BOOK-ANR2016-01-latest.indb 10 08/04/2016 3:32 PM