CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 4 - REPORT OF THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS WORKING GROUP REPORT OF THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS WORKING GROUP Recognising that in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ideal of free human beings enjoying freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his economic, social and cultural rights, as well as his civil and political rights. Preamble, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights The work of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Working Group (ECOSOCWG) has been facilitated by its long-standing relationship with government agencies, NGOs and civil society organisations. This enabled progress on a number of fronts – anti-trafficking in persons, rights of persons with disabilities, rights of indigenous peoples and women’s rights – during the year. The human rights approach was also introduced in issues of business and climate change. 1. ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (ATIP) (a) Visit to Shelter On 7 April, the Commission visited a facility for victims of human trafficking known as Shelter 4,1 operated by the Council for ATIP and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants, Malaysia. The visit was to monitor facilities provided by the Government in line with its obligation to protect victims of human trafficking. The Commission’s team was headed by the Chairman, Tan Sri Hasmy Agam. Officials from the Council present at the Shelter included representatives of the Home Ministry and the Attorney-General’s Chambers. 1 For the safety of rescued victims, the location is not disclosed. Shelter 4, which opened on 15 August 2010, can currently accommodate 150-180 male victims. During the visit, 35 Bangladeshis, ranging in age from 22-42 years were being provided shelter. The Commission was led to understand that 32 of them had been rescued by the police after alleging that their employer, Atlantic Fair Sdn Bhd, had failed to pay their wages/salaries for two months. Additionally, the victims claimed that they had given money to their employer to renew their work permit, but that Atlantic Fair had failed to do so. At the time of the Commission’s visit, their permits had expired. 69