SUHAKAM also continued the public inquiry
into the disappearance of Joshua Hilmy and
Ruth Sitepu.
SUHAKAM embarked on a new approach to
promote human rights. We used public transit
advertisements featuring photographs and
information on human rights to broadcast
on local television and radio stations. After
the transit advertisements were launched
we observed that public attention towards
SUHAKAM and its work gradually grew; the
number of followers and ‘likes’ on SUHAKAM’s
social media pages increased.
At the international level, we continued our
participation in the international and regional
human rights networks, which include the
Southeast Asia NHRI Forum (SEANF), Asia
Pacific Forum of NHRIs (APF) and the Global
Alliance of NHRIs (GANHRI), but virtually.
At the annual meetings of these networks,
discussions on statelessness, torture, and
business and human rights continued. But
the main focus of the thematic human rights
discussions revolved around the COVID-19
pandemic and its impact on countries, the
people, and NHRIs. SUHAKAM foresees that
public health emergencies and human rights
may still be one of the main focus areas
for next year, considering that countries
worldwide are still grappling with recovery
from the pandemic.
On 10 December 2020, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Legal Affairs Division in the Prime
Minister’s Department (PM’s Department),
SUHAKAM and the United Nations
coorganised a forum titled “Recover Better –
Stand Up for Human Rights”. The theme was
apt as it reflected the current situation in
Malaysia. The meeting discussed, among
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ANNUAL REPORT 2020
But the main
focus of the
thematic human
rights discussions
revolved around
the COVID-19
pandemic and its
impact on countries,
the people, and
NHRIs. SUHAKAM
foresees that public
health emergencies
and human rights
may still be one
of the main focus
areas for next year,
considering that
countries worldwide
are still grappling
with recovery from
the pandemic.