The Malaysian Bar refers to the media release by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat, “KPWKM”) dated 24 June 20261 (“KPWKM Media Release”), and extends its congratulations to Dato’ Yasmeen bt Haji Mohd Shariff (“Dato’ Yasmeen”), a Member of the Malaysian Bar and a Bar Council member for the 2026/27 term, on her election as a member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (“UNCRC Committee”) for the 2027–2031 term. She is also a co-chairperson of the Bar Council Child Rights Committee.
Her election by State Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (“UNCRC”) reflects her expertise, steadfast commitment to the advancement of children’s rights, and longstanding contributions to their protection, both in Malaysia and internationally. We are confident that she will serve the UNCRC Committee with independence, integrity and distinction.
In the KPWKM Media Release, they stated, among others, that (translated into English):
- “This achievement reflects the confidence and recognition of the international community in Malaysia’s continued commitment to advancing children’s rights in line with the principles of the CRC”;
- “Malaysia has continuously undertaken various efforts to ensure that children’s rights are upheld”;
- “The MADANI Government will continue to ensure that every child is given equal opportunities to grow, be protected, and achieve their full potential”; and
- “Malaysia welcomes … broader international efforts to ensure that no child is left behind”.
The Malaysian Bar welcomes these sentiments and takes this opportunity to invite KPWKM and the Government to translate them into concrete action. This is a timely reminder that Malaysia’s international recognition and commitment must be matched by domestic action. The Malaysian Bar stands in solidarity with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia, “SUHAKAM”),2 and reiterates its call on the Government to immediately withdraw its remaining reservations to the UNCRC,3 as such reservations are incompatible with the KPWKM Media Release and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969).
Withdrawing the five reservations would extend to children in Malaysia the full protection guaranteed under the following provisions of the UNCRC:
(1) Article 2: the prohibition against discrimination, which guarantees that the rights under the UNCRC are afforded to every child without exception;
(2) Article 7: the right to immediate birth registration, a name and the acquisition of a nationality;
(3) Article 14: the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion;
(4) Article 28(1)(a): the right to free and compulsory primary education; and
(5) Article 37: the prohibition against torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and arbitrary deprivation of liberty.
It would ring hollow for Malaysia to celebrate its membership on the UNCRC Committee while continuing to insist upon reservations that deny children in Malaysia the full protection guaranteed under the UNCRC. These reservations are untenable and sit uneasily with Malaysia’s aspiration to demonstrate international leadership in children's rights. Surely in this day and age, these reservations on the five Articles of the UNCRC, are outdated.
Dato’ Yasmeen’s election is a proud moment for Malaysia. We therefore urge KPWKM and the Government to seize this opportunity to translate international recognition into meaningful domestic reform by immediately withdrawing the remaining reservations and giving full effect to the rights enshrined in the UNCRC. The Malaysian Bar has every confidence that Dato’ Yasmeen will bring her ferocious commitment to safeguarding children’s rights to bear, and that she and KPWKM will succeed in convincing Malaysia and other State Parties to withdraw all remaining reservations to the UNCRC post-haste.
Anand Raj
President
Malaysian Bar
2 July 2026
1 “Calon Malaysia Dapat Undian Tertinggi Sebagai Anggota Jawatankuasa Hak Kanak-Kanak Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu Bagi Penggal 2027–2031”, Media Release, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, 24 June 2026.
2 “Media Statement No. 05-2026_SUHAKAM Calls for Urgent and Time-Bound Actions Following CRC Review of Malaysia”, Media Statement, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, 29 January 2026.
3 “Press Release | Malaysia Must Fully Comply with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Withdraw All Its Reservations”, Malaysian Bar website, 10 June 2026.