This study reviews legal instruments relevant to the rights of indigenous peoples to education, the indigenous education system in Malaysia, as well as their rights and practices in other jurisdictions. The review shows that the indigenous peoples in Malaysia face many challenges and issues while exercising their rights to education. Among the problems faced by indigenous peoples in Malaysia include the lack of access to trained teachers, inadequate funding, and a lack of knowledge among teachers, in terms of indigenous culture and tradition, which seemingly play no role in shaping the education system in Malaysia. Evidence of these problems can be seen in terms of the opportunities provided to indigenous peoples to participate in decision-making, curriculum design, teachers' selection, and teaching methods that respect indigenous cultures and traditions. This is not compatible with the international law standards and some states' best practices that recognize indigenous peoples' right to establish and control their educational systems and institutions and provide education in their language, in a manner consistent with non-discrimination teaching and learning culture. This paper is expected to contribute to improving the quality of education of the indigenous peoples in Malaysia through some recommendations. Keywords: Education, human rights, international, Malaysia, Orang Asli. Cite as: Nordin, R., Hassan, M. S., Wong Rui Fern, V., Cherley, M., & Bala Subramaniam, L. (2020). Indigenous education for the Orang Asli: Legal perspectives and best practices. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 5(2), 365-383. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol5iss2pp365-383

Human trafficking is a grave threat to human rights. Statistic shows that yearly almost thousands of men, women and children grieve in the hand of traffickers as human trafficking victim, in their own countries or abroad. Thus, there is a need for Malaysia to take the necessary step to combat human trafficking and at the same time to provide effective protection for victims of trafficking as enacted under the Malaysian Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM 2007). The first part of this research examines the international law standards on human rights protection of the victim of human trafficking while the second part analyses any legal and policy measures adopted within the Malaysian context. In this analysis, attention will be made on numerous protection mechanisms such as provision for a shelter, or a place of refuge, appointment of Protection Officers, medical treatment, right to work and safe repatriation. This research further examines and assesses the adequacy and effectiveness of the current measures and laws especially in terms of their enforcement by the relevant enforcement bodies. Analysis on the existing legal framework within other ASEAN States, including Indonesia, is also done so as to provide relevant best practices for consideration and adoption by the Malaysian government. In conclusion, this research provides a number of solutions to address the problems and challenges within the existing legal framework in Malaysia with the ultimate aim at providing better protection for the victims of human trafficking.

The main objective of this chapter is to critically analyze the law in theory and practice on free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) as part of the right to self-determination of the Indigenous peoples in ASEAN by looking at international law standards. This chapter evaluates the issues and challenges in applying the principle of FPIC in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia according to domestic law compared to international law standards. The study found that the FPIC in ASEAN member states remains a regime of unfulfilled promises. This chapter suggests several legal reforms to improve the recognition of FPIC as part of the right to self-determination of the Indigenous peoples. It will substantially complement the realization of the SDGs’ central pledge to “leave no one behind” (LNOB) and goal 16 in promoting a just, peaceful, and inclusive society. It is vital to advance the rights of Indigenous peoples, thus assisting ASEAN member states in achieving Targets 16.7 and 16.10 of SDG 16. <!----> <!----> <!----> <!---->

This study examines the conditions of prisons and the treatment of prisoners in Nigeria. The purpose of this examination is to determine compliance with the benchmarks for the treatment of prisoners and ascertain if prisoners’ rights against ill-treatment are safeguarded. The study uses relevant laws, as well as published and unpublished reports, in order to paint a coherent picture of the conditions of prisons and the treatment of prisoners in Nigeria. This article comes to the conclusion that prisons in Nigeria are not operating satisfactorily according to their statutory duties, and instead of functioning as rehabilitation centres they end up contributing to human rights violation.