Key Issues The Commission also requested more transparency in negotiations on the FTA and TPPA so that consumers are better informed of the issues and the consequences of these Agreements on their human rights. It was also suggested that the text and all relevant documents related to the FTA and TPPA negotiations, as well as a related United Nations Development Programme report, be disclosed for public scrutiny in Malaysia. 9. UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW (UPR) In anticipation of the review of Malaysia’s human rights performance under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), scheduled to take place at the 17th session of the UPR from OctoberNovember 2013, the Commission conducted a series of consultations with various stakeholders including government agencies and civil society organisations in the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak to assess the implementation of commitments under the first UPR cycle, as well as to learn the challenges to be faced and aspects that can be improved under the second cycle. The Commission was disturbed to learn that most of the participants at the consultations held outside Kuala Lumpur had very little awareness or understanding of the UPR. The Commission was also disappointed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney-General’s Chambers, both of which have key roles to play in the UPR process, did not respond to its invitation or send representatives to the consultations. The Commission is of the firm view that the Government should play a more active role in ensuring the involvement of various stakeholders in the UPR mechanism and that the relevant government agencies should play a more active and direct role in the implementation of the UPR recommendations which have been accepted by Malaysia. The Commission will monitor the implementation of the UPR recommendations by government agencies and will also step up its efforts to promote awareness and understanding of the importance of this mechanism in improving national human rights standards. The Commission is of the firm view that the Government should play a more active role in ensuring the involvement of various stakeholders in the UPR mechanism and that the relevant government agencies should play a more active and direct role in the implementation of the UPR recommendations which have been accepted by Malaysia. 10. ASEAN HUMAN RIGHTS DECLARATION The Commission welcomes the adoption of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) at the regional summit in Cambodia on 18 November as a positive development in the promotion and protection of human rights. Although the Commission is encouraged that the AHRD covers a wide range of rights, all of which are in line with international human rights standards, it 22