HUMAN RIGHTS MODULE FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL In order to reinforce the delivery of human rights education, in 2009, SUHAKAM with the full cooperation of the MOE introduced the Human Rights Best Practices programme (known by its Malay initialism, ATHAM) in schools. The aim of the programme is to create ‘human rights friendly schools’, i.e., schools that adopt human rights in the education of the students. The programme encourages the creation of a school environment and community that are sensitive to human rights and child rights in teaching, learning, and the management and administration of schools as well as the inculcation of the attitude of mutual respect and responsibility in the entire school community. In 2018, the ATHAM programme was conducted in 222 schools selected by the MOE based on several criteria that were determined collectively. It involved secondary, primary, vernacular, religious and Orang Asli/Asal (indigenous peoples) schools in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. In order to strengthen human rights education in schools, SUHAKAM with the collaboration of the MOE introduces the Human Rights Modules for Secondary and Primary School. DID YOU KNOW? Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 1948 DEFINITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS Human rights are rights that exist for every human being, regardless of nationality, place of residence, gender, race or ethnicity, colour, religion, language, or any other status. Every human being has an equal right to enjoy human rights without discrimination. These rights are interrelated, interdependent and indivisible. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF MALAYSIA ACT 1999 (ACT 597) Section 2 of SUHAKAM Act: “human rights” refers to fundamental liberties as enshrined in Part II of the Federal Constitution. Section 4 (4) SUHAKAM Act: For the purpose of this Act, regard shall be had to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 to the extent that it is not inconsistent with the Federal Constitution. Adopted by the United Nations on 10 December 1948, listing 30 articles concerning human rights. Malaysia is one of the 193 UN member states. HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION Part II of the Federal Constitution: FUNDAMENTAL LIBERTIES ARTICLE 5: Liberty of the person ARTICLE 6: Slavery and forced labour prohibited ARTICLE 7: Protection against retrospective criminal laws and repeated trials ARTICLE 8: Equality ARTICLE 9: Prohibition of banishment and freedom of movement ARTICLE 10: Freedom of speech, assembly and association ARTICLE 11: Freedom of religion ARTICLE 12: Rights in respect of education ARTICLE 13: Rights to property HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF MALAYSIA (SUHAKAM) #understandyourrights 3