WORKING GROUP ON NATIONAL RATIFICATION OF ICESCR

Working Group on National Ratification of ICESCR c/o Malaysian Bar Council, No. 13, 15 & 17, Leboh Pasar Besar, 50050 Kuala Lumpur. Chair of Working Group:Roger Chan Contact Details: chengyijustice@gmail.com/+60122758191

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Main Block, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 Putrajaya, Malaysia
Dear Datuk Seri,

8 February 2012

C alling For M alaysia To Ratify T he International Covenant O n E conomic, Social A nd C ultural Rights We,theWorking Group on National Ratification of ICESCR,withsupportfromMalaysiancivilsociety call on the Malaysian government to immediately ratify the International Covenant On Economic, Social And Cultural Rights (ICESCR) as this move will be consistent with the governments prime focus to build a better economy utilising the Economic Transformation Plan (ETP) process as the core for development. This must go hand in hand with its commitment to the globally accepted human rights norms as stated in the International Human Rights treaties such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights (ICESCR). Malaysia is one of the about 30 countries that have yet to become a party to the ICESCR. In commemorating 55/49 years of independence on 2012, we the undersigned NGOs urge Malaysia to sign and ratify the 1966 ICESCR and its Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and fully implement them without delay. 2. At a time when many countries are under the shadow of financial instability, the global struggle for basic human dignity has never been more visible and the protection of economic, social and cultural rights is now more crucial than ever. We believe that human rights must be central to efforts to reduce poverty. By ratifying the covenant and the optional protocol, the government will show that it is willing to protect and uphold the rights of people living in poverty. Forced evictions, stigmatization towards water, land grabbing, unequal access to education, workers rights violation, human trafficking, privatization of health services and curbing of freedom of religion are among the Economic Social and Cultural Rights violations faced by many in Malaysia and the government has shown commitment on working on these issues. 3. We call on your good self as the Prime Minister to show leadership in this issue which needs urgent attention by the government of Malaysia. By becoming a party to the ICESCR and Optional Protocol to the ICESCR, the Malaysian Government will demonstrate its commitment to protecting human rights and eradicating poverty at home and internationally. The ratification of the Covenant and Optional Protocol will be crucial as it is a concrete step to rectify the gaps for the protection of victims of violations of economic, social and cultural rights. We hope that Datuk Seri will act to strengthen the recognition and implementation of economic, social and cultural rights and access to justice for all. Currently, there are a total of 160 nations which have become parties to the ICESCR. Besides Malaysia, nations which are yet to become parties include Burma, Ethiopia, Singapore, Haiti, Botswana, U.A.E, Qatar and USA. As a nation which has already signed crucial conventions like Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women( CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), it is only right that Malaysia progress and ratify the ICESCR together with the other UN conventions and treaties without any reservations.

WORKING GROUP ON NATIONAL RATIFICATION OF ICESCR

4. We, the Working Group on National Ratification of ICESCR, as signed below, are ready to work together with the government including all relevant Ministries to ensure speedy ratification. We hope Malaysia will put its signature and ratify the ICESCR no later than 31 st August 2012 as wewillnotwaitforanother50years. We thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to hearing from Datuk Seri. On behalf of the Working Group,

______________________________________________

Roger Chan, Chairperson of Working Group Working Group on National Ratification of ICESCR members: SUARAM, Bar Council Human Rights Committee, Lawyers for Liberty, ERA Consumer, Amnesty International Malaysia , JERIT, Dignity Int Malaysia [secretariat] CC: DatoSriAnifahHj.Aman,MinisterofForeignAffairsofMalaysia Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Attorney General of Malaysia Tan Sri Hasmy Agam , Chairperson of SUHAKAM Lim Chee Wee ,President of Bar Council NGOs Calling For The National Ratification of ICESCR 1. Bar Council Human Rights Committee 2. SUARAM 3. Amnesty International Malaysia 4.ERA Consumer 5.Lawyers for Liberty 6. Dignity Int. Malaysia[secretariat] 7. Pusat Komas

WORKING GROUP ON NATIONAL RATIFICATION OF ICESCR

8. Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) 9. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas(JERIT) 10. Sinui Pai Nanek Sengik (SPNS) 11. Panggau 12. Community Action Network(CAN) 13. Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia 14.La Salle Centre 15.Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER) 16. Center for Orang Asli Concerns(COAC) 17.Tenaganita 18.Indigenous.Peoples.Development.Centre(IPDC) 19.Third.World.Network 20.Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM) 21.Rainbow Genders Society 22. Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility 23. Islamic Renaissance Front 24. Lim Lian Giok Cultural Development Centre 25.Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS) 26.Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor 27.Women's Aid Organization(WAO) 28.Anak Muda Sarawak(AMS)

WORKING GROUP ON NATIONAL RATIFICATION OF ICESCR

29.Borneo Resources Institute (BRIMAS) 30.Labour Resource Centre 31.Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) 32. Friends.In.Conversation(FIC) 33. Pusat.Kebajikan.Good.Shepherd 34.Health.Equity.Initiatives