14/06/2026
The Bar Council Child Rights Committee (“BCCRC”) and the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Children’s Rights ("APPGM-CR"), with technical advisory support from Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, "SUHAKAM"), jointly organised a symposium titled “Legal Symposium on Children’s Rights to Access to Justice and Effective Remedies” on 10 June 2026 at Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Wisma Badan Peguam Malaysia to highlight key developments in Malaysia and the region, including gaps that remain to be addressed following the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (“CRC”) during its review of Malaysia.
The symposium featured a combination of presentations, case studies and interactive panel discussions, providing the participants with the opportunity to engage with pressing child rights issues in Malaysia. These include access to justice, harmful practices affecting children and the role of the Malaysian Judiciary and legal institutions in safeguarding children’s rights, in line with the CRC’s general comment No. 27 on children’s rights to access to justice and to an effective remedy.
The programme featured distinguished guests and speakers, as follows:
(1) Dato' Shyamala Alagendra Khan, International Lawyer; Former Child Rights Advisor to the United Nations in Myanmar;
(2) Professor Ton Liefaard, United Nations Children's Fund ("UNICEF") in Chair in Children's Rights at Leiden University, Netherlands;
(3) Associate Professor Dr Nadzriah Ahmad, Faculty of Law, Universiti Teknologi Mara ("UITM");
(4) Rehana Dole, Programme Manager, UNICEF Chair in Children's Rights;
(5) Dr Farah Nini Dusuki, Chief Child Commissioner, SUHAKAM;
(6) Sharmila Sekaran, APPGM-CR;
(7) Tuan Zuhair bin Rosli, Deputy Registrar, Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia;
(8) Dip Magar, Economic, Social,and Cultural Rights ("ESCR") Bangkok;
(9) Puan Nur Shuhadah binti Mohd Jamal, Legal Officer, Department of Federal Territories;
(10) Jessie Lee, Member, SUHAKAM Children's Consultative Council;
(11) Dr Subatra Jayaraj, Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia ("RRAAM");
(12) Melissa Akhir, SUHAKAM Commissioner;
(13) Firzana Redzuan, Monsters Among Us ("MAU"), APPGM-CR;
(14) Qalista Dohny, Chief Deputy Secretary, SUHAKAM Sabah;
(15) Professor Dato' Noor Aziah binti Hj Mohd Awal, Professor, National University of Malaysia ("UKM");
(16) Dr Mikiko Otani, Family Law Practitioner; Former Chair of the United Nations CRC;
(17) Anand Raj, President, Malaysian Bar;
(18) M K Thas, Co-Chairperson, BCCRC;
(19) Collin Andrew, Co-Deputy Chairperson, BCCRC;
(20) Meera Samanther, Co-Chairperson, Bar Council Constitutional Law and Human Rights Committee;
(21) Khaizan Sharizad (Sherrie) Abd Razak, Partner, Seira & Sharizad; and
(22) Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal, Advocate and Solicitor, Raj & Sach.
The Judiciary also exhibited its Mobile Children’s Court and Mobile Child Witness Vehicle on the ground floor of the venue, providing the participants and members of the media with an opportunity to gain insight into child-friendly justice initiatives and the administration of justice for children in Malaysia.
Upon conclusion of the event, the President of the Malaysian Bar issued a press statement regarding the state of children’s rights in our nation, which can be found here: https://www.malaysianbar.org.my/article/news/press-statements/press-statements/press-release-malaysia-must-fully-comply-with-the-united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-and-withdraw-all-its-reservations
