Late activist honoured for human rights efforts

KUALA LUMPUR: The late activist Dr Irene Fernandez was among those who was awarded the Human Rights Award this year.
The others were Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS), Berita Harian crime journalist Wan Noor Hayati Wan Alias, The Star senior journalist Elanthiraian Perumal, BFM89.9 radio station and the Malaysian Armed Forces.
Fernandez was awarded for her "outstanding and tireless effort" in defending the rights of marginalised groups through Tenaganita, while SWWS was awarded for its work in promoting women's equality and violence elimination among rural women and girls in Sarawak.
Wan Noor Hayati and Elanthiraian were awarded for their investigative reporting in uncovering truths on human rights issues that affected grassroots communities, while BFM89.9 for demonstrating "fair and balanced" reporting on community, social justice and human rights issues.
The Malaysian Armed Forces was also honoured with an award in the Government Agency Category for its voluntary initiative in providing informal education for the underprivileged children in Sandakan since 2009.
While commending the recipients for their exemplary work, Malaysia Human Rights Commission president Tan Sri Hasmy Agam said business entities should think beyond Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
They should also protect human rights values in their daily operations and staff welfare.
He said many businessmen think that being committed to CSR is sufficient to contribute to society, not realising that their staff welfare is equally important.
"Doing CSR is just a charity; that is not upholding human rights," he told reporters after the Suhakam's 2014 Human Rights Awards ceremony today.
Hasmy said for 2014, the awards have included the Business Entity Category to encourage businesses to see beyond CSR programmes.
The business entity category award was conferred to DiB Coffees in Hawaii, which is the first business entity to provide equal opportunity to the "differently abled" people by promoting rights-based business approach.
It will be expanding its employment for those wheelchair bound, slow learners and those with autism.
Hasmy said fighting for human rights or creating awareness on human rights is not the work of Suhakam or NGOs alone but should be practised by people at all levels.
He said Suhakam is pushing for Human Rights to be taught as a subject in schools, but feedback from parents or authorities showed that they feel that students have already too much on their plate.