Elected to the UN Rights Council, Malaysia to prioritise vulnerable groups

Malaysia is elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) for the term 2022-2024, following elections held during the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Thursday. Malaysia received an overwhelming majority of 183 votes.

As a Council member, Malaysia intends to prioritise the rights of vulnerable groups particularly children, women, the indigenous people, and the elderly.

“Malaysia plans to push for the empowerment of youths to have a bigger role at all levels of decision-making. Malaysia will also uphold access to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a human right that needs to be protected and promoted.

“At the international level, Malaysia will continue to advocate strongly against human rights violations, such as the systemic oppression of the Palestinian people and the Rohingya in Myanmar, and work together with the international community to rebuild Afghanistan,” says a media release from Wisma Putra.

Malaysia has served in the HRC twice before, from 2006-2009 and 2010-2013 where it worked constructively with all stakeholders in the pursuit of a balanced and non- politicised approach to human rights issues.