EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Applauding the Government’s commitment to develop a National Human Rights Action Plan, the Commission called on the Government to consult appropriate stakeholders in drafting the Plan. The Commission will work closely with the Government in monitoring the implementation of the Government’s commitments arising from the Universal Periodic Review process. In addition, mindful that ratification or accession to international human rights treaties would give recognition to many basic fundamental freedoms, the Commission will intensify its calls for ratification or accession to the six main core human rights treaties to which Malaysia has yet to subscribe. These include the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. With regard to the ratification of international human rights instruments, the Commission reiterated that this would demonstrate the country’s commitment to enhancing human dignity, as well as promoting and protecting the human rights of citizens. It again called on the Government to strengthen and enhance the power of the Commission to be able to play a significant role in observing and monitoring the Government’s implementation deriving from these instruments. REPORT OF THE EDUCATION AND PROMOTION WORKING GROUP (EWG) The EWG is an important section in the Commission, being tasked with promoting awareness and providing education on human rights. As in previous years, it took promotional activities on human rights education to schools and universities. The Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, initiated a project called ‘Human Rights Best Practices in Schools’ that is aimed at integrating human rights values and principles into school life. Five schools were selected. The Commission, in cooperation with Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), is evaluating the effectiveness of the project. The EWG also focused on promoting the rights of Orang Asli children, in particular their access to education and the quality of education. The Commission, bearing in mind that university students will be future leaders of society, organised programmes aimed at sensitising them to human rights issues. These were conducted in collaboration with the relevant universities. The Commission worked on promoting the rights of women, as evident with the release of the report ‘The Status of Women’s Rights in Malaysia’. This highlights issues affecting women, inter alia, their access to education, healthcare services and employment, as well as problems relating to trafficking and sexual harassment. 8