Be Well-Versed In International Human Rights, Minister Anifah Advises Judiciary, Lawyers

By Yuri Azhar Mazlan KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Bernama) -- Judges, public prosecutors and lawyers must be well-versed in international human rights instruments ratified by ASEAN member states, says Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman. He said concerted efforts to enhance the functioning of rule of law institutions must be undertaken to build more robust judicial systems and extend the rule of law further and deeper in the region. "It is a multi-layerd process that requires the efforts of a wide range of stakeholders in ASEAN, which are the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government, local and regional authorities, ombudsman institutions and civil society," he added. Anifah said this in his speech read out by the ministry's secretary-general, Ramlan Ibrahim at the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights Judicial Colloquium on the Sharing of Good Practices Regarding International Human Rights Laws here Monday. He noted the judiciary had, at its core, an inherent duty to promote and protect the universal, inalienable and invisible rights of the peoples, according to the law of the land. The minister also said ensuring that human rights was not compromised or encroached were among the judiciary's roles, besides checking and balancing the two branches of government, namely the Executive and Legislature. On many occassions, Anifah noted, Malaysian courts had decided against the Executive in "what some rights advocates may term as progressive judgements". "From upholding the rights of the indigenous peoples to their native customary land rights...to recognising a woman's right to non-discrimination in employement on the account of her pregnancy, we have witnessed a more enlightened citizenry, ready to claim what they perceive to be theirs." On the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights Law Programme, Anifah said it was timely and strategic because it brought together, rule of law practitioners and human rights experts. "My hope is that we can build on the existing multilateral judicial cooperation framework under ASEAN and forge an even stronger partnership after this meeting. "By progressing together, we can secure greater prosperity and freedom for the ASEAN peoples," he added. --BERNAMA