A/HRC/11/30* 89. Mexico congratulated Malaysia, a culturally and ethnically diverse country, for guaranteeing fundamental freedoms in its Constitution, noting adoption of legislation on trafficking in persons, its recent signature to the CRPD and its leadership regionally to achieving full signing of the ASEAN Charter. It recognized progress in registering public policy to guarantee access to health and education, and national plans to reduce extreme poverty while guaranteeing dignified housing. It recommended: (a) bearing in mind that there has already been thinking in this direction, consider positively accession to international human rights treaties, particularly ICCPR, ICESCR, ICRMW and ILO Convention 169 on indigenous peoples and tribes; (b) an open standing invitation to special procedures visiting the country, particularly relating to the fundamental rights and freedoms of indigenous peoples and the rights of migrants; and (c) promotion of gender equality and protection of childhood and that favourable consideration be given to withdrawing the reservation on CRC and CEDAW. 90. Palestine noted the Federal Constitution’s amendment for the full implementation of Malaysia’s commitment to combat all forms of discrimination against women. Palestine congratulated Malaysia’s efforts to eliminate poverty, the reduction of the number of poor households and that in 2008 the economic growth was calculated by 5.7 per cent. Palestine supported Malaysia’s commitment and efforts to combat corruption, particularly thanks to the Malaysian Academy against Corruption. Palestine recommended that Malaysia a) continues raising awareness of trafficking in persons and migrant workers, particularly women and children, who are a vulnerable group in the society, and deserves all possible help. 91. India commended Malaysia’s effort to reform the legislation on violence against women and to prevent exploitation of children, as well as achievements in women’s education, health care, reduction of poverty and inequalities in income and education. It also welcomed the legislation on human trafficking, the steps taken to restore public confidence in the judiciary. While welcoming the mandate of, and the work done by, the SUHAKAM, it requested Malaysia to elaborate on concerns expressed about its effectiveness, autonomy and independence. It enquired about steps taken to protect human rights defenders and migrant workers and asked Malaysia to share its experience on the success of the measures taken to enhance the participation of minorities and various ethnic groups in the country’s political and decision-making process. 92. Germany recommended that Malaysia: (a) ensure that provisions for arrest and detention are compatible to international human rights standards; that all persons detained have timely access to legal remedies to challenge their detention, have access to legal counsel and are brought to trial or released without unnecessary delays; (b) outlaw corporal punishment at home; and provide victims of domestic violence with access to legal remedies and protection from potential perpetrators; effective campaigns should be set in place to inform and sensitise the population on this matter; and (c) allow migrant domestic workers full access to legal remedies in case of abuse and duly investigate all cases of abuse and bring perpetrators to justice; effective steps should be taken to protect migrant workers from attacks from militia groups; Malaysia should ensure that the pre-departure training centres are operated to meet the basic needs of the workers and do not encourage any form of abuse. 93. Italy noted that SUHAKAM and other stakeholders expressed concerns at possible abuses of prevention detention and other restrictive measures. In this respect, recommended that Malaysia (a) consider amending the Internal Security Act and bring domestic security legislation in line with international human rights standards, including through increasing legal safeguards of detainees and abolishing the practice of long detention without trial. Italy noted with concern the continued application of death penalty as well as the lack of reliable official information on this issue and recommended also that (b): Malaysia (i) GE.09-16360 19