SUARA Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) is launching a cartoon competition in conjunction with International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. It will focus on campaigning against the torture of juveniles.
The cartoon competition will kickstart the Malaysia Youth’s Action against Torture (MyAct) campaign. The theme of the competition is ‘Youth against Torture’. It is part of the joint project with APT titled: “Reducing risky practices leading to torture and ill-treatment in police custody in Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand”.
Practices that amount to torture such as forced confession and incommunicado detention have been prevalent in Malaysia for many years. According to Suaram documentation, these illegal practices continue to exist.
They are due to factors such as gaps between law and practices. There may also be ongoing trends and culture in policing that accommodates these practices. This goes against Malaysia’s pledge that it prohibits all forms of ill-treatment or torture as stated in its National Report to the Humans Right Council in November 2018.
The cartoon competition aims to increase public awareness. It will empower young people to reflect on the practice, culture, withheld beliefs on torture, and realise it through their drawings.
Participants are to submit sketches that may include but are not limited to how young people understand torture in Malaysia, how they perceive torture in custody, the public perception towards torture and the government’s efforts and attitudes towards preventing torture.
The success of advocacy campaigns such as the “Cartoonist against Torture” exhibition spearheaded by the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) in collaboration with Suaram and other civil society organisations in 2019 shows that popular mediums such as cartoon and films are effective in raising public awareness. And they may potentially counter narratives that condone these practices.
In addition, the artworks from the competition will also benefit the advocacy efforts of national organisations such as Suhakam, Act4Cat or Bar Council towards Malaysia’s ratification of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT).
Members of the public can visit myact.suaram.net to learn, take part or see the artworks submitted for the competition.
Youths taking part can learn more about the issues of torture and ill-treatment. Further information and guidance for the competition are available on the website.
This includes cartoon artworks previously published by Suhakam, information about torture and the UNCAT in a simple and accessible way.
Suaram is grateful for the generous financial support provided by the European Union. It looks forward to working together towards eradicating practices that condone torture and ill-treatment in Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, as well as the Southeast Asian region. – The Vibes, June 27, 2021
