Malaysia Remains Committed to Advocating Human Rights

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia continues to advance in legal and institutional reforms, emphasizing a society-wide approach to enhance human rights.

Since 2018, the government has modified or introduced 26 laws, including repealing the mandatory death penalty in July 2023 and decriminalizing attempted suicide in May 2023, reflecting a shift towards more compassionate governance.

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry’s Deputy Secretary-General for Multilateral Affairs, Bala Chandran Tharman, highlighted these changes during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council.

These reforms are part of Malaysia's efforts to protect children, women, and vulnerable groups, including the enactment of the Anti Sexual Harassment Act and revisions to the Sexual Offences Against Children Act in 2023.

Malaysia prioritizes human rights as key to national development and improving citizens' living standards. The current framework guides the government's efforts towards creating a society based on care, compassion, trust, and respect.

The National Recommendation Tracking Database aids in monitoring human rights progress, strengthening collaboration between government and non-government entities.

Continuing its commitment, Malaysia aims to align human rights with overall development, guided by the Malaysian Federal Constitution and focusing on prevention, particularly for vulnerable groups, while promoting human rights awareness and capacity-building programs.

This review, the fourth since 2009, is part of Malaysia's collaborative effort under the UPR, a UN initiative for peer-reviewing human rights practices globally.
-- BERNAMA