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KUALA LUMPUR: Vaccination is a human right that must be respected, protected and fulfilled, so universal access to an affordable, accessible and equitable vaccine is crucial, said Chancellor Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (pix).
He said that international cooperation is extremely crucial at this juncture to ensure effective coordination and follow-up of the efforts of the United Nations system to promote and guarantee global access to medicines, vaccines and medical equipment to face Covid-19.
He said that in the same spirit, Malaysia has joined the Covax Global Vaccines Facility and is collaborating with countries around the world to ensure that vaccines become a global public good.
“The world is eagerly awaiting the development of a safe and effective vaccine to stop Covid-19, and some countries have also started their national implementation plans or are participating in phase three clinical trials.
“While these are positive developments, there is a high risk that global competition will drive up prices for vaccines and other medical treatments, affecting our efforts to achieve global immunity,” he said in his keynote address at the Virtual Forum. of the 2020 International Human Rights Day, in conjunction with World Human Rights Day today.
Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said that the Malaysian government has identified that the economic impacts of the pandemic have affected more women than men, so gender-sensitive policies have been implemented under the Prihatin and Penjana stimulus packages, including assistance. cash for single mothers, childcare allowances and work arrangements.
“We also focus on addressing the increase in cases of gender-based violence during the pandemic, and we take steps to safeguard and protect women by establishing hotlines, online advocacy, shelters, and providing counseling services.
“The well-being of migrants, refugees and stateless persons in Malaysia was also not forgotten and has been given equal importance with free health screenings and medical treatments related to Covid-19 that are provided to all foreign citizens regardless of their immigration status. “, said. .
He said that Malaysia remains committed to following up on the recommendations received during the 3rd Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in November 2018 and that, to this end, a biannual multi-stakeholder consultation has been conducted, involving all competent agencies, academia and civil society. been institutionalized.
“Based on these consultations, we also recognize the need to improve our monitoring mechanism and agree to use the National Recommendations Monitoring Database (NRTD) developed by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), as it will facilitate monitoring and inter-agency coordination.
“It is worth mentioning that this year Malaysia was selected by OHCHR as one of six model countries for its ‘Study on good practices emerging from the UPR’ and through the study, OHCHR will produce a public report on good practices that they emerge from the UPR that would serve as reference material for countries in future UPRs, ”he said.
Hishammuddin said, therefore, that Malaysia will present its candidacy to the Human Rights Council for the period 2022-2024.
“The Human Rights Council embodies the spirit of multilateralism, which Malaysia continues to uphold and, as a member of the HRC, Malaysia will work closely with all stakeholders to advance human rights progress in the country and in the world,” he said. .
Meanwhile, the UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, Stefan Priesner praised Malaysia’s recent development of an effective system to monitor the implementation of the UPR recommendations.
“I would like to acknowledge Malaysia’s commitment to human rights … The UN is proud to work with your beautiful country since before independence, and we are pleased to support Malaysia in various human rights efforts.
“We also recognize the important role of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) in promoting and protecting human rights, and we stand ready to support the government and other partners now and in the future … and we hope to further strengthen collaboration by signing the UN Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development as soon as possible ”, he added. – Called
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