CHAPTER 1 2. THE HUMAN RIGHTS ARTICLE WRITING COMPETITION FROM A RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES Since 2018, SUHAKAM has actively conducted programmes and activities related to human rights and religion by strengthening cooperation with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), state Islamic religious authorities, other religious bodies, NGOs and public. Among the programmes and activities were the Seminar on Disabled-Friendly Mosques (20 October 2018)10, National Seminar on Islam and Human Rights (27 November 2018)11, Seminar on the Disabled-Friendly Places of Worship in Malaysia (18 March 2019)12, collaboration with federal and state religious departments to include human rights topics in Friday sermons13 and human rights training programmes for federal and state religious department staff.14 To further strengthen the cooperation, SUHAKAM organised a Human Rights Article Writing Competition from a Religious Perspective from 1 July 31 December 2020. The main objective was to raise awareness and educate Malaysians. However, the competition also aimed to add to SUHAKAM’s publication collection whereby the best 20 articles would be published in 2021. This competition limited its scope to the four main religions/beliefs in Malaysia namely Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism and focused on two thematic areas, namely women and children’s rights. All Malaysians could participate in either of the two categories - Category A (below 18 years old) and Category B (public). SUHAKAM received 69 entries and will announce the 20 best articles in June 2021. All participants will receive a certificate, while the writers of the 20 best articles will receive RM500.00 (Category A) and RM1,000 (Category B). 10 11 12 13 14 SUHAKAM Annual Report 2018, p.131. SUHAKAM Annual Report 2018, p.162. SUHAKAM Annual Report 2019, p.169. SUHAKAM Annual Report 2018, p.161 and Annual Report 2019, p. 196. SUHAKAM Annual Report 2019, p. 197 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 61