Does M'sia deserve UNHRC seat?
Safe DoorPublished: Feb 25, 2012 10:49 AM | Updated: Feb 25, 2012 10:51 AM
Malaysia is currently one of the 47 member states in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) with her term expiring in 2013. The entity was created by the UN General Assembly on 2006 under resolution 60/251 in order to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights for every human being.
The question is whether Malaysia deserves the respected seat in promoting and protecting human rights? This letter intends to look into this question of whether or not Malaysia deserves that honour by looking at the refugee situation and current state policy and implementation where refugee survival in the country is concerned.
I am, once again disenchanted with the statement made by one of Malaysia's senior ministers that refugees can't work because they are covered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
It is not a matter of welfare. It's a matter of right – human rights. To work is a right not welfare regardless of nationality, race and status. It is covered by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Furthermore, the right to work is a fundamental right enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention which Malaysia is reluctant to ratify.
Malaysia often promoted its self as a moderate country, committed to promoting human rights.
While doing that, Malaysia continues being reluctant to ratify many UN conventions and treaties including the Refugee Convention.
Non-legally binding commitment is the best way to showing commitment to promoting human rights and helping refugees in the country.Malaysia is committed to providing assistance to refugees on a humanitarian basis.
Does this guarantee that refugees may enjoy their rights? Does this assure the protection and empowerment of refugees?
The minister's statement that refugee can't work has shown that no one is able to make the government accountable to what it had committed itself to. As Malaysia maintains its reluctance to be a signatory to the Refugee Convention, her domestic legislation has never protected refugees.
The Malaysian Immigration Act 1959/63 does not even differentiate between refugees and illegal migrants and therefore can be arrested, detained, deported and caned up to 6 strokes. While facing these threats , UNHCR role in protecting and providing immediate and necessary assistance for the refugees are limited.
In terms of empowering the refugee community and helping those in need of immediate assistance, how many refugees are now provided UNHCR allowance since they are not allowed to work legally in this country?
If they are given cash, how much does UNHCR hand out ? Is it enough to cover 1 family (between 3 - 6 family members)? If a refugee is handicapped, injured because of a accident or suffers from chronic disease, is the UNHCR able to provide them with the necessary help?
If refugee is unable to pay for his or her hospitalization fees (even after 50% discount), is UNHCR able to look into this and help them?
If they are not allowed to work and UNHCR does not provide them any assistance, how are they to survive? Many of refugees in Malaysia that I've met expressed their difficulty in getting assistance from UNHCR.
The government tends to look at the refugee issue in this country from a security perspective.
Government institutions and agencies tend to look them as a threat to the state, societal and environmental security. My question is how many refugees are involved in street crimes, robbery and any other serious crimes? Is Malaysia's statistics able to provide the alarming figures?
By looking their presence in the country as a threat, the war against refugees has long been undertaken. But not a direct war but war through proxy issues such as the war against people smuggling, human trafficking and terrorism.
Even the victims of people smuggling and trafficking many of them genuine refugees – have been charged and criminalized under specific acts. No right to seek asylum where they were arrested upon arrival. No genuine protection from forcibly being returned to their home country where they will face serious threats. No right to education.
Nothing is given in the form of genuine and fundamental rights to refugees in Malaysia but the country Malaysia still has a seat in the UNHRC, a body supposedly devoted to so-called promoting and protecting human rights.
Does Malaysia deserve to seat in the UNHRC?
The question is whether Malaysia deserves the respected seat in promoting and protecting human rights? This letter intends to look into this question of whether or not Malaysia deserves that honour by looking at the refugee situation and current state policy and implementation where refugee survival in the country is concerned.
I am, once again disenchanted with the statement made by one of Malaysia's senior ministers that refugees can't work because they are covered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
It is not a matter of welfare. It's a matter of right – human rights. To work is a right not welfare regardless of nationality, race and status. It is covered by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Furthermore, the right to work is a fundamental right enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention which Malaysia is reluctant to ratify.
Malaysia often promoted its self as a moderate country, committed to promoting human rights.
While doing that, Malaysia continues being reluctant to ratify many UN conventions and treaties including the Refugee Convention.
Non-legally binding commitment is the best way to showing commitment to promoting human rights and helping refugees in the country.Malaysia is committed to providing assistance to refugees on a humanitarian basis.
Does this guarantee that refugees may enjoy their rights? Does this assure the protection and empowerment of refugees?
The minister's statement that refugee can't work has shown that no one is able to make the government accountable to what it had committed itself to. As Malaysia maintains its reluctance to be a signatory to the Refugee Convention, her domestic legislation has never protected refugees.
The Malaysian Immigration Act 1959/63 does not even differentiate between refugees and illegal migrants and therefore can be arrested, detained, deported and caned up to 6 strokes. While facing these threats , UNHCR role in protecting and providing immediate and necessary assistance for the refugees are limited.
In terms of empowering the refugee community and helping those in need of immediate assistance, how many refugees are now provided UNHCR allowance since they are not allowed to work legally in this country?
If they are given cash, how much does UNHCR hand out ? Is it enough to cover 1 family (between 3 - 6 family members)? If a refugee is handicapped, injured because of a accident or suffers from chronic disease, is the UNHCR able to provide them with the necessary help?
If refugee is unable to pay for his or her hospitalization fees (even after 50% discount), is UNHCR able to look into this and help them?
If they are not allowed to work and UNHCR does not provide them any assistance, how are they to survive? Many of refugees in Malaysia that I've met expressed their difficulty in getting assistance from UNHCR.
The government tends to look at the refugee issue in this country from a security perspective.
Government institutions and agencies tend to look them as a threat to the state, societal and environmental security. My question is how many refugees are involved in street crimes, robbery and any other serious crimes? Is Malaysia's statistics able to provide the alarming figures?
By looking their presence in the country as a threat, the war against refugees has long been undertaken. But not a direct war but war through proxy issues such as the war against people smuggling, human trafficking and terrorism.
Even the victims of people smuggling and trafficking many of them genuine refugees – have been charged and criminalized under specific acts. No right to seek asylum where they were arrested upon arrival. No genuine protection from forcibly being returned to their home country where they will face serious threats. No right to education.
Nothing is given in the form of genuine and fundamental rights to refugees in Malaysia but the country Malaysia still has a seat in the UNHRC, a body supposedly devoted to so-called promoting and protecting human rights.
Does Malaysia deserve to seat in the UNHRC?
View Comments0