Article contributed by Nursyaizan Jasni, Officer, Bar Council Migrants, Refugees and Immigration Affairs; and photos by Satha Selvan Subramaniam, Senior Administrative Assistant, Bar Council Secretariat
The Bar Council Migrants, Refugees and Immigration Affairs Committee ("MRIAC"), in collaboration with Human Rights Working Group, Our Journey and the United States Agency for International Development ("USAID"), organised a Policy Dialogue on the Implementation of the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrants Workers on 12 Nov 2019.
The ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers ("ASEAN Consensus") was signed by ASEAN Leaders during the 31st ASEAN Summit in November 2017. As provided for under the ASEAN Consensus, ASEAN Member States will implement the ASEAN Consensus through an action plan.
The Policy Dialogue was held to discuss the Malaysian perspective on the ASEAN Consensus and to provide recommendations to the regional action plan.
The objectives of the Policy Dialogue were to:
(1) provide a platform for governments of ASEAN Member States, ASEAN sectorial bodies, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders to discuss and share best practices and lessons learned for the purpose of implementing the ASEAN Consensus at the national level; and
(2) increase the engagement and participation of civil society organisations in the development process of the regional action plan as part of the implementation of the ASEAN Consensus.
The event, attended by 35 participants from numerous organisations, consisted of six sessions. The welcoming and opening addresses were delivered by Dato" Amir b Omar, Secretary General of the Ministry of Human Resources; Shashi Devan Thalmalingam, Co-Chairperson of MRIAC; and Daniel Awigra, Deputy Director of Human Rights Working Group. The Policy Dialogue concluded with a discussion session moderated by Rafendi Djamin, Senior Advisor of Human Rights Working Group.
