Chapter 3 - Report of the Research and Policy Development Group The Commission hopes that the Government will continue to engage the CEDAW Committee on the implementation of the Concluding Comments and to ensure substantive equality for women and to prevent discrimination. The Commission reiterates its call to the Government to withdraw its remaining reservations to Articles 9(2), 16(1)(a), 16(1)(c), 16(1)(f) and 16(1)(g) of the CEDAW and to ratify the Optional Protocol to CEDAW. (b) Consultation with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD) on the CEDAW State Periodic Report On 15 August, the MWFCD invited the Commission to discuss its combined 3rd and 4th draft CEDAW State Periodic Report to the UN. The Commission was also invited to submit its responses on the Report, which it has done. 2. MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD (CRC) In preparation for the submission of the CRC Report 2012 to the UN, the Commission visited 10 selected schools, comprising five primary and five secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, to gather children’s views on specific human rights issues. The visits were conducted over a period of two months, upon obtaining approval from the Ministry of Education, Selangor Education Department and Kuala Lumpur Education Department. The Commission’s officers met 10-15 students from each school. The questions put to them focused on areas in which more measures are required of the Government to ensure that all children have full enjoyment of their rights as guaranteed by the CRC: • • • • • • • The extent of freedom of expression that they enjoy Their views on the national education system Their observations on race relations Baby abandonment issues Media freedom The necessity of corporal punishment in school Bullying in school The students’ responses have been incorporated into the CRC Report 2012, in addition to the Commission’s observations from the visits and its stand on the issues involved. Information and findings from the visits may also be used by the Commission for the purposes of verification, further studies, and for other activities as it deems fit. The CRC Report 2012 highlights ongoing issues of concern to the Commission, such as children with disabilities, cruel and inhuman treatment, freedom of religion, rights of refugee children, right to education, child trafficking and sexual exploitation, rights of indigenous children, and stateless children. 79