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After Putrajaya abandons Icerd, DAP Youth wants better human rights education
Published:  Dec 9, 2018 6:46 PM
Updated: 10:46 AM
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DAP Youth has called on Putrajaya to put more emphasis on human rights education in schools, particularly on the nine United Nations human rights conventions, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd).

DAP Youth secretary Teh Hoong Keat made the call after the government decided not to ratify the treaty following protests by several Muslim groups, backed by Umno and PAS.

"Human rights education had all this while been neglected by the previous BN government.

"As a result, core human rights conventions, such as Icerd, were demonised by irresponsible political parties through lies, disinformation and racist statements.

"If society had a holistic civic education, it would be impossible for extremists to take advantage by using religion and race for politics," he said in a statement today.

As such, Teh said, Putrajaya must take human rights education seriously.

"Explanation sessions and discussions on core human rights conventions must be intensified at public and private universities.

"Human rights awareness campaign in various languages by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) should also be encouraged, so that information can be conveyed to all layers of society."

Teh added that the celebration of Human Rights Day today was significant as it marked the end of BN's "tyranny and oppression."

He said the new government under Pakatan Harapan respected the right to assembly, freedom of speech and have walked the talk.

Yesterday, tens of thousands gathered in Kuala Lumpur to protest against Icerd.

The government had said there was no necessity for the rally as it had decided not to ratify the treaty, but allowed it to be held nevertheless.

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