Chapter 1 - Report of the Education and Public Relations Group
II. PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION
Education creates awareness and
understanding of the universal principles and
norms of human rights, as well as builds zero
tolerance of abuse of any kind.
Tan Sri Hasmy Agam
Mindful of the need to make human rights accessible to all segments of society in more creative
ways, the Commission embarked on two new projects during the year – ‘Human Rights Comics’
and ‘Human Rights Video’.
Other notable activities included the public release of the Commission’s Annual Report 2012
and the Human Rights Booklet Competition under the Human Rights Best Practices in Schools
(HRBPS) programme. To mark World Human Rights Day, the National Human Rights Awards
were presented. A panel discussion, themed ‘Road to 2020: Human Rights and Development’,
was jointly organised with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT).
The Commission sustained its community outreach programmes and held meetings with senior
government officials. It received visits from representatives of schools, universities, National
Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and UN agencies.
In engaging with the media, it issued statements (see Appendix I), participated in interviews and
responded to human rights issues as these arose.
1. PUBLIC RELEASE OF THE ANNUAL REPORT 2012
On 9 July, the Commission held an open forum to highlight the key issues and recommendations
in its Annual Report 2012. The event drew 102 participants from government agencies, NGOs,
government-linked companies (GLCs) and the media.
The discussion covered human trafficking, preventive detention laws, implementation of the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the
National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP), and the National Inquiry into the Land Rights of
Indigenous Peoples in Malaysia (NI). The Commission also clarified its focus on five thematic
areas for 2013 vis-à-vis other fundamental human rights issues.
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