SUHAKAM organised an online Roundtable Table Discussion on Addressing Scabies at Detention Centres on 22 October. As a result, SUHAKAM recommends the setting-up of a Special Committee to look into implementing the recommended solutions to address the problem. In February, SUHAKAM began our third public inquiry into the disappearance of Joshua Hilmy and Ruth Sitepu. As of October, a total of 19 witnesses testified before the panel. The hearing was postponed several times due to the pandemic and will continue in early 2021. SUHAKAM was scheduled to undergo the fourth re-accreditation process in October. This was postponed to June 2021 because of COVID-19. SUHAKAM organised a consultation on 4 August to share with and invite stakeholders to participate in the upcoming re-accreditation. Participants noted SUHAKAM’s efforts to promote and protect human rights over the years but added there was an urgent need to review the SUHAKAM Act to strengthen our mandate and functions. SUHAKAM notes that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) agreed to use the National Recommendations Tracking Database (NRTD) to facilitate the monitoring and coordination of implementing Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations among the relevant agencies. SUHAKAM hopes the development and utilisation of the monitoring tools will be expedited for effective monitoring of the implementation of UPR recommendations. In conjunction with the SEANF Annual Meeting, SUHAKAM, the National Commission on Human Rights in Indonesia (Komnas HAM) and Commission of Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) co-hosted an Online Dialogue on Statelessness on 25 November. Nationality laws and immigration laws are among the political barriers perpetuating statelessness in Sabah. SUHAKAM, Komnas HAM and CHRP will continue to work closely with relevant stakeholders to mitigate statelessness in Sabah. SUHAKAM issued 47 press statements throughout the year. They addressed various human rights issues related to the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable groups, racism and xenophobic remarks directed at migrant workers and refugees during the COVID-19 pandemic, and children’s rights. They also addressed racist and offensive comments by Members of Parliament, SUHAKAM’s position on the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) Bill 2020 and the Penal Code amendment to decriminalise attempted suicide. xvi ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Select target paragraph3