PUTRAJAYA: Law lecturer Prof Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal has been appointed Suhakam (Human Rights Commission of Malaysia) Commissioner for Children for the 2019-2022 term.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced today that the appointment was made according to subsection 5(2) of the Suhakam Act 1999 (Act 597) and upon the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“The appointment is among the reforms undertaken by the government in protecting the rights of children. It took effect on April 27, 2019,” the statement said.
The PMO said Noor Aziah had more than 23 years of experience in the field of human rights laws, especially relating to women and children.
The Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia law lecturer is also a member of the National Council for Children, which is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
She has served as Malaysia’s representative in the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (2016-2019) and chairman of the Muslim Women Consultative Council 2013-2019.
On April 11, Dr Wan Azizah announced in the Dewan Rakyat that the government had opted to appoint a children’s commissioner instead of establishing a children’s commission to resolve issues related to the protection of children. - Bernama