Chapter 1 – Report of the Policy, Law and Complaints Group
I. POLICY DIVISION
The world has enough for everyone’s need, but
not enough for everyone’s greed.
Mahatma Gandhi
Pre-eminent Indian nationalist leader and proponent
of nonviolent civil disobedience
Under its restructuring exercise, the Commission divided the former Research and Policy
Development Division into two new divisions – the Policy Division and the Law Reform
and Treaties Division. During the year, the Policy Division focused its work and advocacy
on issues related to business and human rights; the National Human Rights Action Plan
(NHRAP); the Parliamentary Select Committee on human rights; follow-up action on the
report of the National Inquiry into Land Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Malaysia (NI); and
research on transgender issues, particularly in respect of the rights to employment, healthcare,
education, housing and dignity. The Policy Division also conducted follow-up activities to
the Commission’s previous thematic studies on “The Right to Education for Children with
Learning Disabilities” and “Care Services for Older Persons and Support for Caregivers”.
1.
FOLLOW-UP TO 2013 THEMATIC AREAS
In finalising the reports of the Commission’s research on its 2013 thematic areas, namely,
“The Right to Education of Children with Learning Disabilities” and “Care Services for
Older Persons and Support for Caregivers”, the Commission had met with the Ministry of
Education (MOE) and the Social Welfare Department (JKM) to obtain input and comments as
well as updated data and statistics that were later incorporated in the Commission’s reports.
These two reports were released on 16 November during a round-table discussion (RTD),
which was held to exchange views on the findings and recommendations of those reports.
The RTD was divided into two sessions. The morning session focused on the issues pertaining
to the right to education for children with learning disabilities (CWLD) while the afternoon
session focused on the issues relating to care services for older persons and support for
caregivers. The RTD was attended by representatives from Government agencies, civil
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