CH A PT E R 1
Campaign Coalition members namely the Malaysian Bar Council, Amnesty International
Malaysia (AIM), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) and Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) handed
over a memorandum to the Malaysian Representative to AICHR, Mr Edmund Bon Tai
Soon, and the representatives of MOFA on 25 June, ahead of International Day in
Support of Victims of Torture. In the memorandum, the ACT4CAT coalition called on
AICHR Malaysia and MOFA to undertake the following:
i.
Publicly support the call for the ratification of UNCAT;
ii. Support and facilitate dialogues between the Government of Malaysia and other
UNCAT signatories within the ASEAN region and the United Nations;
iii. Invite and welcome special rapporteurs and international human rights experts to
Malaysia; and
iv. Assign the ratification of UNCAT as one of AICHR Malaysia’s long-term goals.
While presenting the memorandum to these key actors, the coalition also highlighted
the fact that 6 ASEAN Member States, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR,
Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam have ratified UNCAT and that 58 Organisation of
Islamic Cooperation (OIC) States have ratified the convention globally.
AICHR has the mandate to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental
freedoms of the ASEAN people. This mandate ought to empower AICHR to advocate
for the ratification of UNCAT in Malaysia as the ASEAN governments, including Malaysia,
have expressed support against torture under Article 14 of the ASEAN Human Rights
Declaration. The coalition is hopeful that AICHR Malaysia will take a proactive role by
supporting the ratification of UNCAT in Malaysia.
Noting the important role of MOFA in facilitating the ratification of treaties, and ensuring
the adherence of implementing agencies to international human rights standards, the
coalition deems it necessary for MOFA to open its doors and welcome United Nations
special rapporteurs to conduct additional visits and studies on Malaysia.
The coalition was pleased with the assurance given by AICHR Malaysia that it would
escalate the memorandum to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and discuss with the minister
the proposal to host an inter-Ministry High-Level Dialogue to identify the way forward
for ratifying UNCAT within specific timelines.
SUHAKAM
ANNUAL REPORT 2018
37