KEY ISSUES 10. RATIFICATION OF CORE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS Since its inception, the Commission has continuously encouraged Malaysia to ratify or accede to all international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, the Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), the International Covenant on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (ICRMW) and the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED). In 2004, the Commission had reiterated its call to the Government to ratify the ICCPR, ICESCR, CAT and Optional Protocols to the CRC without further delay. These are essential instruments to demonstrate the country’s commitment towards eradicating poverty, protecting socio-economic rights, enhancing human dignity and promoting the civil and political rights of citizens. The Commission again called on the Government to strengthen and enhance the power of the Commission to be able to play a significant role in observing and monitoring the Government’s implementation deriving from these instruments. 20