Regional Cooperation Frameworks
Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between National Human Rights
Commissions on Statelessness in Sabah
National human rights institutions (NHRIs) vary in structure and function, which can be productive
as well as counterproductive where they are restrained by limited mandates and limited
institutional independence. While their positioning as a state institution makes it more difficult for
governments to dismiss their recommendations, NHRIs are also more vulnerable to government
pressures, and constrained by their resources and institutional location.
MALAYSIA, INDONESIA, AND THE PHILIPPINES
The NHRIs of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines signed a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) to strengthen efforts to address statelessness and the protection
of the rights and welfare of stateless people in Sabah. The tripartite MOU followed
a bilateral one, with the Philippines having previously being an observer due to the
sensitivities around the territorial dispute between the Philippines and Malaysia over
Sabah. Under the auspices of this MOU, the NHRIs of each country have organized joint
dialogues on statelessness and issued a series of recommendations to the governments
of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.86
Active Country-Level Engagement in the Bali Process’
Civil Registration Toolkit
Some members of the Bali Process, such as Pakistan and Thailand, have actively and voluntarily
taken part in the Process’ assessment activities which seek to identify and alleviate gaps in
national civil registration and vital statistics procedures.
PAKISTAN
Following from its engagement with the Bali Process’ Ministerial Conference on Civic
Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), the government of Pakistan has implemented a
national CRVS coordination mechanism, completed a comprehensive assessment, and
set national CRVS targets for 2024. Additionally, the government has begun planning for
a voluntary inequality assessment to identify populations that are less able to access civil
registration services.87
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UND OING PRECARIT Y: ELE VATING P OSITIVE PR ACTICES FOR REFU GEE PROTECTION IN SO U TH AND SO U THE AST ASIA
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