CHAPTER 1 - REPORT OF THE EDUCATION AND PROMOTION WORKING GROUP (ii) Racist remarks in schools Two incidents saw race-based abuse against certain students in schools in Johor and Kedah respectively. Discrimination and racism have no place in education, in particular by educators. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination calls on all Governments to take measures to prevent manifestations of racial, religious and national hatred. Unfortunately, Malaysia is among the 16 countries that have yet to ratify the Convention. 2. HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION FOR YOUTH The Commission continued to organise human rights workshops for undergraduates in public universities, to sensitise them to related issues and give them a platform to discuss their views. Participants showed interest in issues such as freedom of speech. For example, some universities have set up a ‘Speakers Corner’ to enable students to express their views. Although a positive development, it was felt that much more could be done to encourage participation by students. Additionally, training was provided to youth in NGOs. Participants discussed their role in claiming their human rights and exercising these with responsibility. They also said they should be consulted whenever the Government drafts policies on issues affecting their interests. 3. RIGHTS OF WOMEN The EWG published a report on the ‘Status of Women’s Rights in Malaysia’, bringing together the results of discussions and activities to date on women and their rights to education, healthcare and employment. It also touches on trafficking of women, sexual harassment at the workplace and rights of disadvantaged women including persons with disability, indigenous women and female migrant workers. The report calls for the enactment of national law to give effect to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The EWG had hoped to continue with training on women’s rights for Gender Focal Points (GFPs). In the previous years, such training had been conducted with the assistance of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development. Due to certain problems within the GFPs, however, the Commission was unable to conduct training programmes during the year. 28