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Dear FOS,

Suaram and ERA Consumer is organising a Consultation Workshop on the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) on 11 July 2008 (Friday) at the Shah’s Village Hotel, Petaling Jaya.

This year, SUHAKAM will be host to the annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF), an organisation of national human rights institutions in the region of Asia Pacific. The annual meeting of the APF will be held on 28-31 July 2008 in Kuala Lumpur . In line with this, a regional consultation for NGOs is scheduled to be held from 27-29 July 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, parallel to the APF meeting to discuss issues pertaining to the respective national human rights institutions (NHRIs), share and discussing country assessment reports and as well as to formulate strategies.

In this respect, this one-day Consultation Workshop on SUHAKAM on 11 July 2008 will be aimed at assessing the performance of SUHAKAM and facilitating possible joint action among other interested Malayasian NGOs on advocacy concerning NHRIs. The objectives of the workshop are as follows:

- To build awareness and knowledge among NGOs in Malaysia about regional and international developments in relation to NHRIs’ accountability and their compliance with the Paris Principles.
- To promote effective engagements with the APF, the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs (ICC), and other related bodies and mechanisms related to the work of NHRIs.
- To enhance collaboration among Malaysian NGOs in monitoring the performance of SUHAKAM towards enhancing its accountability and effectiveness.
- To provide a forum for participants to share perspectives and experiences, and identify key issues for further work in this area; as well as to develop common strategies among human rights NGOs in promoting cooperation between these NGOs and SUHAKAM.

Please find attached the program of the workshop for your perusal. Whoever who interest volunteering on documentation for the workshop, please contact Chai Yi at 03-77843525 or suaramfos@gmail.com before this Thursday, 10 July 2008.

Thank you very much.

Programme

8.30 – 9.00 Registration

9.00 – 9.20 Welcome and introduction

9.20 – 10.00 Introduction to the APF process; Engaging with the APF and the ICC
- Presentation by resource person from Forum Asia

10.00 – 10.40 Q & A

10.40 – 11.00 Coffee break

11.00 – 11.40 SUHAKAM’s Compliance to the Paris Principles and its Effectiveness in Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in Malaysia, 2000-2008

+ Perspective of SUHAKAM: SUHAKAM commissioner
+ Perspective of NGOs: Former HAKAM President Ramdas Tikamdas

11.40 – 12.30 Q & A

12.30 – 1.30 Lunch

1.30 – 1.50 SUARAM & ERA Consumer’s report on SUHAKAM submitted to the ICC

- Presentation by John Liu and Mohan Sankaran

1.50 – 2.15 Open discussion

2.15 – 3.45 Group discussion on SUHAKAM’s effectiveness and accessibility, and recommendations for improvement:

+ HR Education and Promotion
+ Law Reform and International Treaties
+ Complaints and Inquiries
+ Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
+ Civil and Political Rights

3.45 – 4.30 Reporting back by groups

4.30 – 4.45 Coffee break

4.45 – 5.45 Discussion on common goals/plan of action

5.45 – 6.00 Conclusion and closing