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MALAYSIA UPHOLDS THAT ACCESS TO CLEAN, HEALTHY, AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT IS A HUMAN RIGHT

MALAYSIA UPHOLDS THAT ACCESS TO CLEAN, HEALTHY, AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT IS A HUMAN RIGHT

 

Access to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a human right that needs to be protected and promoted. Malaysia upheld

that position when it co-sponsored a resolution at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) on 8 October 2021 in Geneva. The

Resolution was a first for the Council; in establishing a clear and direct linkage between a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment with

human rights. Malaysia also co-sponsored a related HRC resolution that establishes the position of a Special Rapporteur to promote and

protect human rights globally in the context of climate change.

 

Malaysia welcomed the HRC Resolution that highlight the human rights implications of environmental damage and climate change faced by

individuals and communities around the world, especially on vulnerable groups, including the indigenous peoples, older persons, persons

with disabilities, and women. By supporting the Resolution, Malaysia acknowledged that environmental degradation, climate change and

unsustainable development constitute some of the most pressing and serious threats to the ability of present and future generations to 

enjoy human rights, including the right to life, the rights to health, development, housing, water and food.

 

Malaysia’s priority in addressing climate change is part of the country’s pledges for its candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council for the

term 2022-2024, at elections to be held in New York on 14 October 2021. It is also in line with the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025), as 

recently unveiled by YAB Prime Minister towards a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable growth for all.

 

The 12th Malaysia Plan aspires to advance green growth by implementing clean, green and resilient development agenda through a whole-

of-nation approach. As Malaysia commits to conserve planetary health and aspires to become a carbon neutral nation by 2050 at the

earliest, priority will be given to low-carbon and climate-resilient sosio-economic development, as well as conservation of natural resources

and ecosystems. The 12th Malaysia Plan is aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, representing Malaysia’s commitment

in implementing the 17 goals of the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

 

 

As called by the Resolution, Malaysia aims to play its part in implementing this newly recognised right, including by building capacities as part of

the efforts to protect the environment and adopt appropriate policies to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystems, in line with the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development. Towards this end, Malaysia pledges to work closely with other countries, international and regional organisations, civil

society, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), the academia, and the corporate sector, in securing a better future for the next

generation.

 

 

DATO’ SAIFUDDIN ABDULLAH

12 OCTOBER 2021

 

 


10/12/21

LIST OF CONVENTIONS / TREATIES THAT HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED INTO BAHASA MELAYU

Ratified by Malaysia

1. Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW
 
1.1 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW
   
2. Convention on the Rights of the Child, CRC
 
2.1 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostiitution and child pornography
2.2 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict ; and
2.3 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure
   
3. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, CRPD
 
3.1 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
   

Yet to ratify

4. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment – CAT
 
4.1 Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
   
5. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - ICCPR
 
5.1 Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: and
5.2 Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of death penalty
   
6. International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - ICERD
   
7. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - ICESR
 
7.1 Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
   
8. International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance - ICPED
   
9. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families - ICRMW
   
10. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1951;
 
10.1 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1967
   
11. Rome Statute
   

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