'53 years on, end rights abuses'

Amnesty International-Malaysia has urged the government and the people to 'Demand Dignity' in commemorating Malaysia's 53rd year of independence.In a statement today, executive director Nora Murat said that, in 1957, the government had resolved to represent the rights of its people, and that it should hold fast to this.“We need to demand leadership accountability and transparency which are essential to end the human rights violations which keep people poor. We need to Demand Dignity',” she said.

In the past, she said Malaysia has been criticised for human rights abuses and discriminatory practices based on ethnicity, religion and beliefs. “These 'legally codified practices' have reached their deadline and we as a nation need to come together as a team to end poverty, by working to strengthen recognition and protection of the rights of the poor,” she said. She explained that 'Demand Dignity' is a campaign about all rights, as it is the combined abuse of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights that drives and deepens poverty.

“By demanding dignity, we are demanding that our government adopts and implements laws, policies and practices that will end deprivation, insecurity, exclusion and voicelessness. Participation and involvement in the decisions that affect our lives are essential to human rights. “By including all rights holders in policy making, governments are at once creating a framework for accountability, transparency, inclusion and empowerment. These are the pre-requisites to ending poverty.”

'End vicious cycle'

Nora said the government must create conditions that allow people living in poverty to claim their human rights and empower themselves, so that they can be the masters of their destiny.“Full respect for rights requires the recognition that everyone has the right to live in dignity, and the right to food, water, basic health care, education and shelter. “These demands -–codified in an impressive body of international law and universal standards - give those living in poverty a tool to change the balance of power that keeps them poor.”She added that human rights abuses cause and perpetuate poverty. “And that poverty leads straight back to such abuse. This vicious cycle must be stopped,” she added.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/141451