Nov 7th Forum On International Human Rights Conventions

A must attend forum for those interested in why Malaysia has not ratified many international human rights instruments, and in particular the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

When:   7 Nov 2013 (Thursday) | 4:00 pm to 5:40 pm

Where: Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, 15 Leboh Pasar Besar, 50050 Kuala Lumpur

The United Nations (“UN”) has a wide range of international covenants. To date, Malaysia has ratified three conventions (albeit with reservations); namely the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 1979, the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2006.

There are 122 state parties to the International Criminal Court (“ICC”) in the world today. Malaysia is a well-respected nation, not only within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (“ASEAN”), but internationally. Malaysia’s ratification of the Rome Statute of the ICC 1998 (“Rome Statute”) and other international conventions would send a strong message to both ASEAN and to the rest of the world that Malaysia has respect for human rights and international norms. Malaysia could be part of the growing movement of nations that have become state parties to the ICC.

The objectives of this public forum are to address:-

(1) the status and position of ratification of the Rome Statute by Malaysia; and

(2) the status of ratification of other primary UN conventions by Malaysia, and Malaysia’s stand on the ratification of other primary UN conventions.

Registration for the forum will begin at 3:30 pm.

Programme:

3:30 pm Registration

4:00 pm   Introduction by  Andrew Khoo Chin Hock, Co-Chairperson,  Bar Council Human Rights Committee

4:10 pm    Welcome Address by  Christopher Leong, President, Malaysian Bar

4:20 pm    Keynote Address by  YB Puan Hajah Nancy bt Haji Shukri  Minister of Law, Prime Minister’s Department0

4:40 pm    Presentation by  Sivananthan Nithyanantham  Advocate and Solicitor; Counsel, ICC

5:00 pm    Question-and-Answer Session

5:30 pm    Closing

5:40 pm Tea Reception

Places are limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.The organiser reserves the right to modify, cancel or postpone the event, should circumstances arise that makes such action necessary. Points for the Continuing Professional Development (“CPD”) Scheme will not be awarded to Members of the Bar who arrive more than 15 minutes late, are not present throughout the event, or leave before its scheduled end.

Please direct all correspondence (including completed registration forms) and enquiries to: Satha Selvan Subramaniam(03-2050 2092; [email protected]) or Shirley Tan(03-2050 2093; [email protected]). Fax No: 03-2031 6640