Chapter 1 - Report of the Education and Public Relations Group
2. TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
(a) Police Force
This year the Commission received invitations from the Police Training School on a regular basis
to give talks on human rights related issues. The main focus for this year was on the topic of
deaths in police custody.
(b) People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA)
Training programmes for officers and volunteers of RELA were conducted at the RELA Training
Centres in Kedah, Melaka and Terengganu. In 2014, a total of 31 sessions were held at the
RELA Training Centres. For each session, approximately 150 officers and volunteers were in
attendance.
The Commission views this as an important activity not only because RELA is an important
arm of the enforcement agencies but also because the volunteers consist of members of the
public. Proper and direct dissemination of human rights knowledge would assist the volunteers
in carrying out their duties and at the same time, as ordinary citizens, they are engaged and
enlightened on the importance of human rights.
(c) Prison Department
In 2014, the Commission continued to conduct human rights awareness programmes with
the cooperation of the Prison Department. The Prison Department demonstrated strong
commitment to ensure that its staff members were well educated and aware of the principles
of human rights.
The Commission conducted ten human rights courses customized to suit different working
and management levels within the Prison Department. The courses were divided into three
levels: basic, intermediate and advanced. A total of 150 officers from various levels attended
the courses. Although the theme for 2014 was prisoners’ right to health, the Commission
covered other important issues as well including the rights of children, the rights of women and
introduction to international human rights instruments.
3. COMMUNITY EDUCATION
(a) Roadshows
The Education Division organized several ‘SUHAKAM Bersama Masyarakat’ sessions in various
regions. Among the objectives of this programme is to familiarise local communities with the
Commission and its functions. The programme is mainly focused on sharing issues of human
rights especially those faced by the public as well as receiving public complaints.
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