participants. Under its “Youth for Rights” programme, SUHAKAM continued to educate and empower youth on human rights principles, through 7 workshops involving 1,535 participants from various local universities and youth groups. SUHAKAM also engaged with Malaysian Islamic groups and religious authorities, Members of Parliament and government agencies, to examine the obstacles surrounding Malaysia’s non-accession to the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Punishment (UNCAT), particularly the incompatibility of domestic civil and syariah laws with UNCAT. SUHAKAM successfully persuaded some mosques to include human rights topics in the sermons preached during Friday prayers at mosques. Furthermore, SUHAKAM and JAKIM jointly organised a National Seminar on Islam and Human Rights on 27 November. Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religion) gave an excellent keynote address. Mujahid stressed that, with the exception of certain circumstances, Islam demanded the promotion and protection of human rights. SUHAKAM regularly issued press statements that called for action and reminded the government and authorities to take steps to address issues affecting the rights of vulnerable groups, especially in relation to issues of gender inequality, the rights of indigenous peoples, religious intolerance and child abuse, including child marriages. The press statements served as a vehicle for SUHAKAM to state its stance and to compel legislative bodies to review, amend or repeal security laws with provisions that breach fundamental liberties. SUHAKAM has an active social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. SUHAKAM strives to be more in touch with the general public and the younger population. On October 11, the Communications and Multimedia Minister announced that the Cabinet has decided to suspend the use of the Sedition Act, Printing Presses and Publications Act and the Communications and Multimedia Act, pending their repeal. SUHAKAM hopes that the government will not waver in its intent and will move forward with full commitment and focus on Promise 27 in the Pakatan Harapan Manifesto and see it through. SUHAKAM submitted a proposal to the Institutional Reforms Committee (IRC) in mid-2018, recommending amendments to a number of clauses in the Malaysian Human Rights Commission Act. The Commission also reminded the government of its obligations to ratify the remaining core international human rights treaties and made recommendations xiv SUHAKAM ANNUAL REPORT 2018