Chapter 1 - Report of the Education and Public Relations Group 7. COURTESY CALLS Sixteen delegations from local and foreign organisations visited the Commission to find out more about its work. (a) Visits by local and foreign delegations On 20 February, the Commission welcomed a delegation from the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission of Malaysia, led by Ms Foo Hui Yi. It hopes to emulate best practices in conducting public inquiries, covering the challenges and constraints, as well as financial and technical aspects. On 26 February, a combined delegation from the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights and the Cross Cultural Foundation of Thailand called on the Commission. It was interested in the Commission’s role and functions, in particular its advocacy work and complaints resolution process. On 8 March, Commissioner Kazi Hoque of the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh shared his experiences on the follow-up to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) outcome. The meeting enabled representatives of both Commissions to exchange ideas and views on effective ways to promote the outcomes of the first cycle of review. On 12 March, the Commission welcomed a delegation comprising academic staff from Afghanistan and representatives of Global Rights. The visit, arranged as part of the delegation’s study-tour to Malaysia, was to learn about the Commission’s work and key human rights issues. On 24 July, a delegation led by Professor Kwong-Whan Ahn from the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development visited the Commission as part of its fact-finding mission to assess the state of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Malaysia after the 13th General Election. The Commission’s Chairman, Tan Sri Hasmy Agam, and Commissioner James Nayagam shared their observations and spoke on the Commission’s efforts in discharging its mandate as a NHRI. On 7 November, the Commission received a delegation headed by H.E Dr Abdul Rahim Al Awadi, the Assistant Minister for the Legal Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the United Arab Emirates. The objective was to learn about the establishment, functions and work of the Commission, since the UAE is exploring the possibility of creating a NHRI as part of its UPR follow-up actions. On 14 November, the Commission welcomed a delegation from the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission, led by its Vice-Chairperson of Internal Affairs, Mr Muhammad Imdadun Rahmat. Both Commissions exchanged views and best practices in handling issues involving religious freedom, among other human rights concerns. On 16 December, Mr Olivier De Schutter, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, visited the Commission in line with his mission to Malaysia. He took special interest in the Commission’s NI, progress in the drafting of the NHRAP, and Malaysia’s accession to international core human rights treaties. 36