It is estimated that there are roughly 2,599 stateless children in Malaysia. Without proper documentation, they are denied their right to access school and education, and ultimately the opportunity to improve their lives in the future. Some foreign children continue to be detained under immigration laws in Malaysia, as either accompanied or unaccompanied minors. Authorities have also used security laws, specifically the Prevention of Crime Act, to detain children without trial. SUHAKAM strongly advocates that the authorities implement alternatives to detention for these children. SUHAKAM reminds the government to accede to international human rights instruments such as the Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. SUHAKAM is concerned with the existence and continued use of the “bucket system” in prisons even to this day. SUHAKAM visited Taiping Prison and Penang Prison in 2018. Sadly, the old prison buildings were often dilapidated and found to have been constructed of unsuitable or sub-standard building material. SUHAKAM is appalled that there are thousands of underaged marriages of those below 18 years old in Malaysia every year and that the abuse and exploitation of children still occurs. This is a grave human rights violation; an early marriage significantly impacts a child’s right to health, education, equality, and non-discrimination. Early marriage also prevents the child from living a life free from violence and exploitation. SUHAKAM urges the government to review existing civil and syariah laws to ensure local laws always consider the best interests of the child and not lead to further human rights violations or discrimination against the child. The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, with support from civil society and SUHAKAM, has initiated discussions and taken steps towards establishing a Children’s Commission in the near future, which will protect and promote children’s rights. Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in Malaysia remain a disadvantaged group with many still left behind, be it in economic, social, cultural, religious, civil or political aspects. SUHAKAM organised a Seminar Masjid Mesra OKU (Seminar on Disabled-Friendly Mosques) on 20 October, with the aim of providing a platform for discussing substantive issues, including the needs of PWD and their basic right to worship. The session sought to identify solutions and resolutions to develop a policy to make mosques disabled-friendly. xvi SUHAKAM ANNUAL REPORT 2018