Human rights watchdog Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) and anti-extremism group Global Movement of Moderates (GMM) said that the ratification of the UN’s International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD); the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, must be placed on the country’s top agenda.

”Malaysia, who has been two terms on the Human Rights Council and (is) now seeking a seat at the UN Security Council, must do more in benchmarking our human rights along with UN international human rights standards,” said Proham and GMM in a joint statement today on Human Rights Day.

”These are achievable as Malaysia has done a lot in the economic, social and cultural dimensions. The other major conventions related to civil and political rights, along with that on refugees, must also be ratified in due time within the next two years, but definitely before the next UPR in 2018,” they said, referring to the UN’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process that examines the human rights records of UN member states.

GMM chief Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said yesterday that Malaysia is at the bottom 10 countries in the UN for not ratifying more international human rights agreements, besides the three on women’s rights, children’s rights and the rights of the disabled.

Saifuddin and Proham’s secretary-general Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria said today that Malaysia’s poor record in signing human rights conventions has placed the developing country beside Myanmar and North Korea.

”Even with OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) and Asean countries, we are at the bottom of the table,” they said.

”We feel the frequent Malaysian excuses that we are not ready is embarrassing. It reveals that we lack the political will and leadership to take Malaysia into the next level of human rights,” they added.

The two stressed that ratifying the UN conventions was achievable as it merely required Cabinet approval, and not a parliamentary decision.

”There is a high expectation from society for the federal government to play a more dynamic role in the promotion and protection of human rights,” they said.

Denison stressed yesterday that Article 153 of the Federal Constitution that protects the special position of the Bumiputeras is not a hindrance in ratifying ICERD, as the treaty allows affirmative action, albeit time bound and specific policies.

He has also pointed out that other Muslim nations have already ratified ICERD.