PAR conducted a baseline survey of prisoners and ex-prisoners living with HIV in 2018 and 2019, to learn more about their special needs.
PAR conducted a baseline survey of prisoners and ex-prisoners living with HIV in 2018 and 2019, to learn more about their special needs.
PAR conducted a baseline survey of prisoners and ex-prisoners living with HIV in 2018 and 2019, to learn more about their special needs.
Malaysian CARE and the Malaysian Drug Policy Reform Alliance made reform proposals to Undersecretary for Prisons, Anti-Drugs & Civil Volunteers Division Datuk Musa Sulaiman and colleagues at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Malaysian CARE took part in the Malaysian Prison Department's prison reform workshop process.
PAR presented on prison reform and drug policy reform to the Caucus on Reform and Governance in Parliament in 2019.Prison Advocacy
Malaysian CARE is inspired by Isaiah 61:1: “He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…” Since 1981, CARE has been working with prisoners and ex-prisoners. Our multi-pronged prison reform strategy focuses on the following:
CARE was invited to be part of the workshop process in 2019 co-hosted by MPD and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), which drafted prison reform proposals for inclusion in the 12th Malaysia Plan.
Malaysian Prison Department’s Prison Reforms
CARE was invited to be part of the workshop process in 2019 co-hosted by MPD and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), which drafted prison reform proposals for inclusion in the 12th Malaysia Plan.
CARE has also worked closely with SUHAKAM, contributing suggestions for prison reform before SUHAKAM made its submission to the Institutional Reforms Committee in 2018.
Policy Reforms
CARE has collaborated with the Malaysian Drug Policy Reform Alliance, since almost 64% of inmates are in for drug offences. Treating drug users as patients who need rehabilitation, rather than criminals who should be jailed, would reduce the overcrowding in prisons and improve living conditions. This initiative is supported by MPD.
CARE is also part of the CSO Platform for Reform, a group of activists. Under one of its cluster groups—on access to justice, rule of law and human rights defenders—CARE presented on prison and drug policy reforms to the bipartisan parliamentary Caucus on Reform and Governance. CARE contributed to the road plan of short-, medium- and long-term measures which the Caucus requested.
Co-advocacy with partners
At CARE’s Prison and Addiction Conference 2019, prison volunteers from churches and other Christian organisations across the Peninsula agreed to set up a national platform to speak as one voice on prison reform issues. CARE is spearheading the drive to form “Isaiah 61”, a network of Christian organisations serving prisoners and ex-prisoners, this year. We hope to extend to Sabah and Sarawak eventually.