CHAPTER 5 - REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ISSUES AND COOPERATION COMMITTEE At its 17th Regular Session in June, the HRC adopted a landmark Resolution on NHRIs (Resolution HRC/17/L.18). This calls on the UN Secretary-General to report to the HRC on NHRIs and the accreditation process of the ICC in promoting Paris Principles-compliant NHRIs. The Resolution encourages States to provide additional voluntary funds to the OHCHR to support the work of the ICC and its regional coordinating bodies. The Resolution, mooted by the ICC, was sponsored by the Australian Government. It enjoyed the support of more than 115 States across all regions. The Commission was encouraged by the fact that some of the co-sponsoring States were those that have yet to establish Paris Principles-compliant NHRIs. The Commission deems the adoption of both Resolutions as a positive assertion of the HRC on the important role and valuable work of NHRIs in promoting and protecting human rights in all regions. It is noteworthy that the adoption of the Resolutions was made possible by the individual and collective advocacy efforts of the ICC and its member-institutions at both national and international levels. On 13 September, the Commission’s Vice-Chairman, Prof Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee, on the invitation of the HRC, took part in a panel discussion on the ‘Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Context of Peaceful Protests’, in conjunction with the 18th Regular Session of the HRC (HRC18). Apart from reaffirming the right of individuals to participate in peaceful protests vis-à-vis the obligations of the State in ensuring its primary responsibility for promoting and protecting human rights, the panel also aimed at identifying ways and means to improve the protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests in accordance with international laws. The five prominent panellists from various regions included the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. The keynote address was delivered by the President of the Maldives, H.E Mr Mohamed Nasheed, who shared his personal experience as a protest leader who had been arrested and imprisoned for the cause of demanding reform. Prof Datuk Dr Khaw, representing the NHRI perspective, spoke on the Commission’s involvement in the events prior to, during and after the public rally organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) on 9 July in Kuala Lumpur. She also highlighted, among others, the need for: The Commission also participated in several key sessions of HRC18 and delivered its oral and written statements to the Council concerning the rights of Indigenous Peoples and UPR, in its capacity as an ‘A’ status NHRI. • NHRIs to monitor and observe protests as well as to mediate before a protest and in dealing with the aftermath; • The authorities to act in good faith in a timely, non-selective and reasonable manner to requests for permits to assemble from legal persons and bodies; and 92