Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: This report extracts mentions of children's rights issues in the reports of all UN Treaty Bodies and their follow-up procedures. This does not include the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child which are available here: http://www.crin.org/resources/treaties/index.asp Scroll to: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights _______________________________________________________________ UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination _______________________________________________________________ UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Issues raised: The Committee urges the State party to undertake a process of law reform to remove inconsistencies between civil law and Syariah law, including by ensuring that any conflict of law with regard to women's rights to equality and non-discrimination is resolved in full compliance with the Constitution and the provisions of the Convention and the Committee's general recommendations, particularly general recommendation 21 on equality in marriage and family relations. In this regard, it encourages the State party to obtain information on comparative jurisprudence and legislation, where more progressive interpretations of Islamic law have been codified in legislative reforms. It also encourages the State party to take all necessary steps to increase support for law reform, including through partnerships and collaboration with Islamic jurisprudence research organisations, civil society organisations, women's non- governmental organisations and community leaders. The Committee further recommends that a strong federal mechanism be put in place to harmonise and ensure consistency of application of Syariah laws across all States. (Paragraphs 13 and 14) The Committee calls upon the State party to implement comprehensive measures to bring about change in the widely accepted stereotypical roles of men and women. Such measures should include awareness-raising and educational campaigns addressing women and men, girls and boys, and religious leaders with a view to eliminating stereotypes associated with traditional gender roles in the family and in society, in accordance with articles 2 (f) and 5 (a) of the Convention. (Paragraphs 15 and 16) The Committee urges the State party to consider ratifying the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children Supplementary to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and to intensify its efforts to combat all forms of trafficking in women and girls, including by enacting specific and comprehensive legislation on the phenomenon. The Committee further calls upon the State party to increase its efforts at international, regional and bilateral cooperation with countries of origin and transit so as to address more effectively the causes of trafficking, and improve prevention of trafficking through information exchange. The Committee urges the State party to collect and analyse data from the police and international sources, prosecute and punish traffickers, and ensure the protection of the human rights of trafficked women and girls. The Committee urges the State party to ensure that trafficked women and girls are not punished for violations of immigration laws and have adequate support to be in a position to provide testimony against their traffickers. (Paragraphs 23 and 24) The Committee recommends that the State party adopt laws and regulations relating to the status of asylum-seekers and refugees in Malaysia, in line with international standards, in order to ensure protection for asylum- seekers and refugee women and their children. The Committee further recommends that the State party fully integrate a gender-sensitive approach throughout the process of granting asylum/refugee status, in close cooperation with appropriate international agencies in the field of refugee protection, in particular the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees. (Paragraphs 27 and 28) _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ UN Committee on Migrant Workers _______________________________________________________________ UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities _______________________________________________________________ UN Committee on Enforced Disappearance _______________________________________________________________
Please note that the language may have been edited in places for the purpose of clarity.
Concluding Observations adopted: 31 May 2006