A/HRC/11/30*
them from the perpetrators of trafficking. The Act also provides protection and
rehabilitation of trafficked victims. The delegation indicated that Malaysia was also
currently reviewing the Domestic Violence Act 1994. Among the proposed amendments
include expanding the definition of “domestic violence” to include emotional, mental and
psychological forms of domestic violence and the usage of drugs or intoxicating substance
on the victim without consent, extend the duration of interim protection order from the time
the investigations were completed until the time the case was brought to court; and to add a
new provision that would allow the victim the right to compensation.
59.
Recent measures taken by Malaysia to fulfil its obligations under the Convention on
the Rights of the Child and implement the recommendations of the Committee on the
Rights of the Child, included a review of Malaysia’s reservations and the legislative
framework as well as the formulation of policies and plans of action on children. A
technical committee was in the process of recommending to the Government to withdraw
Malaysia’s reservations to Articles 1 and 13 of the CRC. Malaysia was currently reviewing
the Child Act 2001, including the recommendation to prohibit the imposition of corporal
punishment and to introduce community service order as an alternative punishment.
Additionally, Malaysia was at the final stage of completing the National Child Policy as
well as the National Child Protection Policy. Both the policies and their plans of action
were scheduled to be tabled for the Government’s approval. Malaysia had engaged experts
from the University Malaysia Sabah to undertake a comprehensive study on street children.
Malaysia unequivocally stated that street children had never been arrested or detained by
the police if they had not committed any criminal offence. In the event that they were
arrested for criminal offences, they would be detained in a special area, separated from
other detainees.
60.
Yemen admired Malaysia for achieving harmony among religious and ethnic groups
in a tolerant, diverse country, praising also achievements in the right to education. Yemen
noted that the high spending on education strengthened the economic, social and cultural
structures of Malaysia. Yemen welcomed efforts to achieve good governance with the
establishment of the Malaysian Institute for Integrity, the Anti-corruption Academy, and the
ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. Yemen recommended
that Malaysia: (a) share its experience in strengthening education with other countries,
particularly with multi-cultural and multi-religious countries; and (b) share its experience in
combating corruption with the countries that have the same interest.
61.
Egypt commended Malaysia’s efforts to uphold human rights, combat human
trafficking and violence, to criminalize sexual exploitation of children, and its achievements
in the delivery of healthcare services. It sought elaboration on measures to face the spread
of HIV/AIDS and Malaysia’s assessment of the level of cooperation received from
international organizations in this regard. It recommended that Malaysia (a) further pursue
national strategies and policies aimed at consolidating the human rights infrastructure and
achieving more progress in the promotion of a culture of respect for human rights; and (b)
continue exercising its sovereign right of adopting national legislations and the penal code
in conformity with its international obligations and the universally agreed human rights
standards, including the application of the death penalty.
62.
Saudi Arabia noted Malaysia’s Education Development Master Plan 2006–2010 and
the guaranteed free basic education. It praised the assistance provided to poorer pupils and
programmes covering the cost of studies. It recommended that Malaysia a) continue on this
positive path to support education. Saudi Arabia noted that Malaysia by submitting itself to
the UPR and legal review of its national laws and legislation in order to harmonize them
with the CRC and CEDAW as well as its accession to the Convention relating to the
abolition of Slavery and the Slave Trade were another testimony of Malaysia’s commitment
to promote and protect civil and political rights. It recommended that Malaysia (b) continue
GE.09-16360
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