Executive Summary EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Commission carried out its programmes and activities according to its Work Plan in line with its Strategic Plan (2012-2016) in meeting the Commission’s vision and mission. In relation to this, the Commission conducted a range of community education, training and engagement programmes and activities with a broad cross-section of the Malaysian public. Research, advocacy and recommendations were also provided to the Government and relevant stakeholders in ensuring that human rights are respected in the country’s law, policy and practice and understood by its agents. The Commission’s accreditation, recognised internationally as an ‘A Status’ National Human Rights Institution (NHRI), is due for review in October 2015. The accreditation, reviewed every five years, requires each NHRI to comply fully with the UN Principles Relating to the Status of National Institutions, known as the Paris Principles. It is imperative for the Commission to retain its accreditation in order to fulfil its crucial role in promoting and monitoring the effective implementation of international human rights standards at the national level. REPORT OF THE EDUCATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS GROUP For the year 2014, the Education Division, in continuing the Commission’s mandate in promoting and raising awareness on human rights in schools through its partnership with the Ministry of Education (MOE), has expanded the programme on Human Rights Best Practices in Schools (HRBPS) to another 138 public and 93 Indigenous People schools. As a result of the HRBPS programme’s aim to inculcate human rights values and principles into the school community, some schools have indicated positive outcomes regarding rates of vandalism and the discipline and disposition of their students. The programme is expected to be launched by the MOE in Sabah and Sarawak in 2015. Parallel to the above, the Commission conducted a Master Trainers programme for teachers at State Counsellor level and continued with its human rights workshops for special education and ‘sekolah agama’ educators. The Division also delivered talks to undergraduates and conducted training for law enforcement officials, in addition to organising roadshows and seminars at various venues at the grassroots level. The Public Relations Division organised three key events to promote greater awareness on human rights among the public as well as stakeholders, namely the public release of the Commission’s 2013 Annual Report, the 2014 Human Rights Awards Ceremony and a Human Rights Debate Tournament. It also assisted in receiving visitors such as United Nations (UN) 5