PROHAM is deeply concerned that
the immigration department and the education department are depriving stateless
children, born in Malaysia, the right to education.
Malaysia is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of
the Child making it a duty on the part of the government to uphold its commitment to the protection and welfare of all children.
Children’s rights under the
Convention includes the right to association with both parents, human identity,
physical protection, food, universal state paid education, healthcare and
child’s civil rights.
Hence, all states being parties to the Convention must
ensure and guarantee these rights to each and every child irrespective whether
they are citizens, stateless or refugees.
Every child is entitled to the
rights and freedom set forth in the Convention without distinction or
discrimination of any kind such as race, colour, sex, language, religion,
national or social origin, birth or other status.
Article 3 of the Convention
clearly provides that in all actions concerning children; whether undertaken by
public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative
authorities, or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall always
be a primary consideration.
Therefore, to impose a
requirement of a passport on a stateless child before a child is allowed to
attend school is a preposterous condition and an outright violation of the
Convention.
PROHAM urges the government and
the relevant department to immediately revoke this condition to enable every
child in this country be given their basic human right namely, the right to
education.
Released by:
Datuk Kuthubul Zaman,
Chairman
Ivy Josiah, Secretary
General ( HP: 012 371 7070)
Society for the
Promotion of Human Rights
Persatuan Promosi Hak
Asasi Manusia (PROHAM)
11 January 2018
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