Chapter 2 - Report of the Complaints, Monitoring and Inquiries Group
One such instance was a request from the Mexican National Human Rights Commission
concerning three Mexicans who had been sentenced to death by the Kuala Lumpur High
Court under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. The Mexican National
Human Rights Commission was concerned about the whereabouts and treatment of the
trio. The Commission, after contacting the authorities, met the detainees at Kajang Prison
on 19 September, interviewed them and communicated the findings to its counterpart in
Mexico.
3. REFUGEES/ASYLUM SEEKERS
The Commission received 50 complaints from the refugee/asylum seeker community in Malaysia,
mainly those from Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Among the issues raised was the delay in obtaining
documentation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which
would provide them with recognition as refugees. Another area of concern involved difficulty
in being selected for the resettlement programme facilitated by the UNHCR. The Commission
referred these complaints to the UNHCR for further action. The UNHCR now provides monthly
statistics on its caseload and the resettlement programme.
The refugees/asylum seekers also complained of hardship due to alleged harassment
by the authorities, the inability to work, and lack of access to healthcare services and
education for children.
4. CHILDREN IN IMMIGRATION
DETENTION CENTRES
The Global Campaign to End Immigration Detention of
Children was launched on 21 March at the 19th session of
the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. In Malaysia, the
campaign was jointly launched by a group of NGOs and the
Commission on 2 April.
Subsequent to this, the Commission and the NGOs met the
Department of Immigration and the Home Ministry to seek
the cooperation of the authorities in addressing the issue of
children in immigration detention centres. At the meeting,
it was agreed that a Working Group would be formed and
that it would comprise relevant stakeholders.
No child shall be
deprived of his or her
liberty unlawfully
or arbitrarily. The
arrest, detention or
imprisonment of a child
shall be in conformity
with the law and shall be
used only as a measure
of last resort and for
the shortest appropriate
period of time.
Article 37(B) of the CRC
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