Rome Statute, 9 human rights conventions to be translated to Malay

 

Wisma Putra will study all international instruments thoroughly before ratifying them, says Saifuddin Abdullah.

PETALING JAYA: To ensure Malaysians understand the nine core human rights instruments as well as the Rome Statute, the foreign affairs ministry has worked with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to have them translated to Malay.

Foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah disclosed this today when responding to a question by Kasthuri Patto (PH-Batu Kawan) in the Dewan Rakyat.

Saifuddin said this effort was aimed at providing the people and stakeholders with an accurate understanding of obligations and state responsibilities as well as the implications of those agreements “if Malaysia joins and ratifies all the treaties”.

“The initiative is also a commitment that has been given by Malaysia during the process of lobbying for membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the term of 2022-2024,” he said in his written reply.

Kasthuri had asked when the government would ratify human rights conventions such as the Rome Statute, the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the United Nations Convention Against Torture, and amendments to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Saifuddin said the government was always open and willing to ratify any instrument “as long as it contributes towards the national agreement with international law”.

“As mentioned on the question of Malaysia’s re-entry into the Rome Statute, the government will continue to study this matter thoroughly, including through ongoing discussions with all stakeholders, prior to any decision being made.

“Here, I would like to emphasise that the government will always be concerned with listening, respecting, and not turning a blind eye to the views of the people and other stakeholders in terms of participating and ratifying any international instruments.

“Such thoroughness is essential to ensure the provisions under such international instruments are consistent and not in conflict with the law existing domestically,” he said.

The Rome Statute is an international agreement that created the International Criminal Court, and serves to complement existing laws in a state to prosecute individuals who commit international crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression.

In 2019, Malaysia withdrew from ratifying the statute following fears that it would affect the Federal Constitution in relation to the constitutional monarchy, Malay rights, and the sanctity of Islam in the country.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Cabinet had decided to withdraw from the treaty because of confusion, not because it was harmful to the country. - FMT