Executive Summary The Complaints and Monitoring Division in discharging its responsibilities to inquire into complaints and issues involving violations of human rights, visit places of detention and monitor public assemblies, had also continued with its thematic studies on the right to health in prison and deaths in police custody. The studies which commenced in 2014, concentrated on data analysis from surveys and on-site visits conducted in prisons and police lock-ups. The thematic reports are expected to be launched in 2016 would detail the findings and recommendations of the research study. For the year, a total of 676 complaints including 20 memoranda were lodged with the Commission including its offices in Sabah and Sarawak. A total of 343 complaints were not within the Commission’s mandate as the complaints were either on matters pending in court, administrative issues or matters under the jurisdiction of professional bodies. Of the remaining 333 complaints, 20 were on refugees where the complaints focus were issues relating to health, education, employment, vulnerability to arrest and detention and delays in registration and resettlement issues. The Commission have also completed investigation on 197 cases while 136 were still pending due to incomplete or lack of information provided by the complainants, delay in the responses by the authorities concern and the need for constant monitoring in reviewing the complaint. The Commission in inquiring into complaints received, had also organised RTDs to obtain feedbacks and inputs from the various parties involved such as the allegation of the right of workers to unionise, disciplinary action taken against teachers due to political affiliation, vote rigging in campus elections and restrictions on student activism among others. It had also conducted meetings to discuss with the relevant authorities to obtain their feedbacks and comments as a follow up to the complaints received. In 2015, the Commission monitored six public assemblies. Since the Peaceful Assembly Act came into force, the Commission noted that the authorities had demonstrated improvement in crowd management and control. During the year, the Division conducted 34 periodic and inquiry visits to places of detention to monitor the condition and treatment of detainees as well as the workplace, health and safety condition of enforcement personnel. The Commission conducted its inaugural unannounced visit to Machap Umboo Immigration Detention Centre jointly with the Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission. Other authorities have been reluctant to allow the Commission to visit without prior notice on the basis of security concern. The Commission together with several government agencies and NGOs had formed a working group to study the implementation of Alternatives to Detention for children in Immigration Detention (ATD). A proposal paper prepared by the Commission on the ATD was agreed in principle by the government agencies. The Attorney General’s Chambers’ views has been sought but has yet to revert with its legal input. 11 BOOK-ANR2016-01-latest.indb 11 08/04/2016 3:32 PM