Several NGOs have urged the government to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination Of All Forms Of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) before year end.

The Working Group on National Ratification of Icerd made the call at a press conference yesterday at Menara PKNS, after launching their‘Ratify Icerd Now'campaign.

A joint effort by Kita, Tenaganita, Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM), Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), as well as the Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham), the working group seeks to ensure that the government ratifies the Icerd no later than Dec 31, 2012.

memo to suhakam immigration ban 140907 jerald joseph Jerald Joseph ( left ), chair of the working group, noted that although Malaysia was a member of the UN Human Rights Council, it was also one of the countries that had failed to ratify the convention.

"Apart from Malaysia, only 16 countries have not ratified the Icerd, including North Korea, and Angola. Do we want this association?", he said, adding that authorities had to muster the necessary political will to ensure greater equality for all races.

Commenting on the situation, Irene Fernandez, director of Tenaganita, said that authorities needed to adhere to international standards with regards to addressing issues concerning migrant workers, applauding the Icerd as a roadmap for equality.

Breeding the grounds for racism

"Look at Malaysia. We get workers from various countries. This creates a very vulnerable climate for racism - there's a lot of tension and concern in neighbourhoods when migrant workers move in, people suspect that crimes may occur, and we need to critically address this probability ", Fernandez ( below) said.

"We cannot continue with race dominance and cronyism - There needs to be an overhaul of politics - reform of the system", she said.

NONE Siti Z Kasim, ( right ) representing the Malaysian Bar Council, pointed out that personal bias was easily corrected, but institutional bias was long term, and far more difficult to overcome, saying that the working group's efforts served as a precursor to abolishing racist and discriminatory policies.

Joseph then chipped in to say: "It can be done. We look at what the government has done for the past ten years, and we've decided, we have what is required - We don't need any more meetings. All we need now is the political will."

The Working Group is organizing a national conference on Sept 11, as well as a roundtable session on July 16. It has also set up an online Facebook campaign to educate citizens about the cause.

The forum and discussion session, moderated by Jerald Joseph, Pusat Komas board member, was attended by various prominent Malaysian personalities, including Women's Aid Organization head Marina Mahathir, Siti Kasim, United Nations Coordination Specialist Lim Mui Kiang, PKR vice president N Surendran, Klang MP Charles Santiago, and Lawyers for Liberty's Latheefa Koya.