Fifty years ago, on 16 Dec 1966, the United Nations General Assembly (“UNGA”) adopted two very important covenants: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (“ICCPR”) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (“ICESCR”).

On that day, the UNGA turned its attention to the world of men and women, along with the sum of those realities in the midst of which they live, declaring that men and women equally must enjoy their civil and political rights, as well as their economic, social and cultural rights, free from fear and want.  With the current political climate of our country and the world at large, these documents indeed remain salient to us today.

The Bar Council Human Rights Committee (“HRC”) therefore finds it especially crucial this year to examine with care and in depth the affirmation of rights made in both the ICCPR and the ICESCR, and to discuss beyond fair-sounding phrases particularly on the obligation of States to promote universal respect for human rights and freedoms.

The HRC is thus organising a public forum — with support from the British High Commission, Kuala Lumpur — to commemorate the golden anniversary of the ratification of both these covenants.

The details of the public forum are as follows:

Time:	2:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Date:	16 Dec 2016 (Friday)
Venue:	Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, Second Floor, Straits Trading Building, Leboh Pasar Besar, 50050 Kuala Lumpur

This forum is open to the public, and admission is free of charge.
 
About the Speakers

Edmund Bon Tai Soon is Malaysia’s representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (“AICHR”) for the 2016-2018 term.

Cynthia Gabriel is a prominent activist and anti-corruption warrior.  She is the Founding Director of the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, otherwise known as “C4”.  She will address the issue of civil and political rights, and issues of governance and integrity, transparency and accountability.

Datuk Denison Jayasooria is the Secretary-General of the Society for the Promotion of Human Rights (“PROHAM”).  He will address the issue of economic, social and cultural rights, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Malaysia, Paul Rennie OBE, will deliver the opening remarks.

The forum will be moderated by Firdaus Husni, Co-Chairperson of the HRC.

University and university college students are especially encouraged to attend.  Tokens of appreciation will be awarded for the best and most interesting topical questions posed to the panellists during the question-and-answer session.

To register for the public forum, please complete and submit the attached registration form by email to satha@malaysianbar.org.my; or by fax to 03-2031 6640.

Should you have any enquiries, kindly contact Satha Selvan, Senior Administrative Assistant (03-2050 2092; satha@malaysianbar.org.my) or Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna, Assistant Director (03-2050 2090; sumitha@malaysianbar.org.my).

 

Thank you.

Andrew Khoo Chin Hock and Firdaus Husni
Co-Chairpersons
Bar Council Human Rights Committee