I like children actually I like children a lot and there are a couple of reasons
a lot and there are a couple of reasons
a lot and there are a couple of reasons why and two of them I hear up on the
why and two of them I hear up on the
why and two of them I hear up on the slide the first one is obviously a
slide the first one is obviously a
slide the first one is obviously a person’s a person no matter how small
person’s a person no matter how small
person’s a person no matter how small all children have rights all children
all children have rights all children
all children have rights all children are human beings obviously and all
are human beings obviously and all
are human beings obviously and all children have a right to everything that
children have a right to everything that
children have a right to everything that we dream and once the second thing is
we dream and once the second thing is
we dream and once the second thing is that actually I take that back I don’t
that actually I take that back I don’t
that actually I take that back I don’t like all children sometimes I don’t like
like all children sometimes I don’t like
like all children sometimes I don’t like my children only because they don’t
my children only because they don’t
my children only because they don’t listen to me all the time especially now
listen to me all the time especially now
listen to me all the time especially now because they’re finals on Monday but
because they’re finals on Monday but
because they’re finals on Monday but that’s a different story the second
that’s a different story the second
that’s a different story the second thing is children are the living
thing is children are the living
thing is children are the living messages we send to a time we will not
messages we send to a time we will not
messages we send to a time we will not see they are our future
see they are our future
see they are our future there’s so much potential and there’s so
there’s so much potential and there’s so
there’s so much potential and there’s so much we need to say and do I think how
much we need to say and do I think how
much we need to say and do I think how we treat children is very much a
we treat children is very much a
we treat children is very much a reflection of how we want to see society
reflection of how we want to see society
reflection of how we want to see society in what we want to say about our society
in what we want to say about our society
in what we want to say about our society so it’s really important that we treat
so it’s really important that we treat
so it’s really important that we treat them well which brings us to Malaysia
them well which brings us to Malaysia
them well which brings us to Malaysia right now if I don’t know if you know
right now if I don’t know if you know
right now if I don’t know if you know this but our population is almost 30 1.7
this but our population is almost 30 1.7
this but our population is almost 30 1.7 million people of which one-third are
million people of which one-third are
million people of which one-third are children and at the age of 18 years old
children and at the age of 18 years old
children and at the age of 18 years old so that’s about 10 million children out
so that’s about 10 million children out
so that’s about 10 million children out of that four percent of their children
of that four percent of their children
of that four percent of their children not Malaysians they’re marginalized
not Malaysians they’re marginalized
not Malaysians they’re marginalized communities they around Iceland children
communities they around Iceland children
communities they around Iceland children their refugee and satanist kids who live
their refugee and satanist kids who live
their refugee and satanist kids who live within our country and there are many
within our country and there are many
within our country and there are many things that they lack and they need and
things that they lack and they need and
things that they lack and they need and that’s why I’m here to sort of be one of
that’s why I’m here to sort of be one of
that’s why I’m here to sort of be one of the protectors to ensure that they have
the protectors to ensure that they have
the protectors to ensure that they have basic rights to basic dignity to and
basic rights to basic dignity to and
basic rights to basic dignity to and have access to all these services that
have access to all these services that
have access to all these services that all Malaysian children have but here I’m
all Malaysian children have but here I’m
all Malaysian children have but here I’m here today to talk about stateless
here today to talk about stateless
here today to talk about stateless children because I’m obsessed for
children because I’m obsessed for
children because I’m obsessed for different reasons one is personal so I’m
different reasons one is personal so I’m
different reasons one is personal so I’m going to share stories and one is
going to share stories and one is
going to share stories and one is obviously because I’m a child activist
every time Minister was quoted as saying
every time Minister was quoted as saying there are a hundred and ninety thousand
there are a hundred and ninety thousand
there are a hundred and ninety thousand stateless children in Malaysia
stateless children in Malaysia
stateless children in Malaysia that’s bigger than the population of
that’s bigger than the population of
that’s bigger than the population of Perlis yeah in Malaysia
Perlis yeah in Malaysia
Perlis yeah in Malaysia under you the United Nations conventions
under you the United Nations conventions
under you the United Nations conventions and the rights of the child under
and the rights of the child under
and the rights of the child under article 8 we have a reservation on that
article 8 we have a reservation on that
article 8 we have a reservation on that article which says that all children
article which says that all children
article which says that all children have a right to attend to an identity in
have a right to attend to an identity in
have a right to attend to an identity in Malaysia because we have a reservation
Malaysia because we have a reservation
Malaysia because we have a reservation we do not need to acknowledge children
we do not need to acknowledge children
we do not need to acknowledge children who are not Malaysian they are for all
who are not Malaysian they are for all
who are not Malaysian they are for all intents and purposes especially if they
intents and purposes especially if they
intents and purposes especially if they are stateless invisible they don’t they
are stateless invisible they don’t they
are stateless invisible they don’t they don’t according to our government exist
don’t according to our government exist
don’t according to our government exist then they don’t have any legal formulas
then they don’t have any legal formulas
then they don’t have any legal formulas of document in this country a birth
of document in this country a birth
of document in this country a birth certificate is also one of the hardest
certificate is also one of the hardest
certificate is also one of the hardest things that they get
things that they get
things that they get although universally all children are
although universally all children are
although universally all children are entitled to a birth certificate a
stateless person is obviously then a
stateless person is obviously then a person who has who’s not considered a
person who has who’s not considered a
person who has who’s not considered a national by any state or and under any
national by any state or and under any
national by any state or and under any operation of law recognized for example
operation of law recognized for example
operation of law recognized for example which is what’s happening at next door
which is what’s happening at next door
which is what’s happening at next door are considered refugees and stateless
are considered refugees and stateless
are considered refugees and stateless because they are not recognized by the
because they are not recognized by the
because they are not recognized by the government as being nationals so right
government as being nationals so right
government as being nationals so right now in August there were 70,000 refugees
now in August there were 70,000 refugees
now in August there were 70,000 refugees who have fled to Bangladesh the
who have fled to Bangladesh the
who have fled to Bangladesh the neighbouring country but as of now
neighbouring country but as of now
neighbouring country but as of now another hundred and thirty thousand have
another hundred and thirty thousand have
another hundred and thirty thousand have crossed the border so there are 200,000
crossed the border so there are 200,000
crossed the border so there are 200,000 bring us on the run and our country
bring us on the run and our country
bring us on the run and our country thank God has actually said that they
thank God has actually said that they
thank God has actually said that they will open the bodies to allow these
will open the bodies to allow these
will open the bodies to allow these these these stateless people these
these these stateless people these
these these stateless people these refugees to come to our country to seek
refugees to come to our country to seek
refugees to come to our country to seek shelter be getting to the child egg I’m
shelter be getting to the child egg I’m
shelter be getting to the child egg I’m gonna tell you a story of why it’s so
gonna tell you a story of why it’s so
gonna tell you a story of why it’s so personal
personal
personal as a child activates in someone who’s a
as a child activates in someone who’s a
as a child activates in someone who’s a co-founder of a is an inch arcade Cody I
co-founder of a is an inch arcade Cody I
co-founder of a is an inch arcade Cody I essential kit I started a shelter in a
essential kit I started a shelter in a
essential kit I started a shelter in a school with some others to look at
school with some others to look at
school with some others to look at protecting children in and around the
protecting children in and around the
protecting children in and around the area in childcare one of the things that
area in childcare one of the things that
area in childcare one of the things that I do is I pick up babies there are lots
I do is I pick up babies there are lots
I do is I pick up babies there are lots of people for not reasons religious and
of people for not reasons religious and
of people for not reasons religious and policy-wise who are afraid of bringing
policy-wise who are afraid of bringing
policy-wise who are afraid of bringing our an to able to bring up their own
our an to able to bring up their own
our an to able to bring up their own children so I get a lot of phone calls I
children so I get a lot of phone calls I
children so I get a lot of phone calls I get a lot of calls they tease dr. tini
get a lot of calls they tease dr. tini
get a lot of calls they tease dr. tini can you come pick up this child can you
can you come pick up this child can you
can you come pick up this child can you can you
can you
can you take care of this child can you bring
take care of this child can you bring
take care of this child can you bring the mother to the hospital for check-ups
the mother to the hospital for check-ups
the mother to the hospital for check-ups etc so I go and I pick them out on one
etc so I go and I pick them out on one
etc so I go and I pick them out on one day in 2008 I received a phone call
day in 2008 I received a phone call
day in 2008 I received a phone call asking me to go up to Klang to pick up a
asking me to go up to Klang to pick up a
asking me to go up to Klang to pick up a child so I went and I jumped into a
child so I went and I jumped into a
child so I went and I jumped into a stranger’s car went out to clang in a
stranger’s car went out to clang in a
stranger’s car went out to clang in a stranger’s car and realize very soon
stranger’s car and realize very soon
stranger’s car and realize very soon while it’s in this car that I was
while it’s in this car that I was
while it’s in this car that I was actually with driving with traffickers
actually with driving with traffickers
actually with driving with traffickers and that they were actually going to
and that they were actually going to
and that they were actually going to sell me a baby so when I got to Clank to
sell me a baby so when I got to Clank to
sell me a baby so when I got to Clank to a house there was there was a child in
a house there was there was a child in
a house there was there was a child in another room and a baby on the on the
another room and a baby on the on the
another room and a baby on the on the sofa and that baby was about two months
sofa and that baby was about two months
sofa and that baby was about two months old according to the doctor whom we saw
old according to the doctor whom we saw
old according to the doctor whom we saw licked her anyway long story short they
licked her anyway long story short they
licked her anyway long story short they sold me it to me
sold me it to me
sold me it to me okay I bought the baby for ten thousand
okay I bought the baby for ten thousand
okay I bought the baby for ten thousand ringgit and because I refused to buy the
ringgit and because I refused to buy the
ringgit and because I refused to buy the documents in the birth certificate to go
documents in the birth certificate to go
documents in the birth certificate to go with it the child didn’t have any
with it the child didn’t have any
with it the child didn’t have any documents so that daughter that child is
documents so that daughter that child is
documents so that daughter that child is now my daughter I adopted her and she
now my daughter I adopted her and she
now my daughter I adopted her and she stateless through no fault of hers but
stateless through no fault of hers but
stateless through no fault of hers but and because I refused to buy papers to
and because I refused to buy papers to
and because I refused to buy papers to go along with the baby so she is now
go along with the baby so she is now
go along with the baby so she is now nine years old
nine years old
nine years old and she doesn’t have she only got her
and she doesn’t have she only got her
and she doesn’t have she only got her birth certificate when she was five but
birth certificate when she was five but
birth certificate when she was five but no city citizens no citizenship so we
no city citizens no citizenship so we
no city citizens no citizenship so we applying for citizenship so she is one
applying for citizenship so she is one
applying for citizenship so she is one category of stateless people children in
category of stateless people children in
category of stateless people children in Malaysia so there are different
Malaysia so there are different
Malaysia so there are different categories of stateless children you you
categories of stateless children you you
categories of stateless children you you have those who are born in Malaysia but
have those who are born in Malaysia but
have those who are born in Malaysia but you have no papers or may have papers I
you have no papers or may have papers I
you have no papers or may have papers I may have some kind of proof through
may have some kind of proof through
may have some kind of proof through witnesses that they have some kind of
witnesses that they have some kind of
witnesses that they have some kind of documents hospital bills some terms that
documents hospital bills some terms that
documents hospital bills some terms that to say that they’re born in this stuff
to say that they’re born in this stuff
to say that they’re born in this stuff but no legal document to say that
but no legal document to say that
but no legal document to say that there’s their Malaysian citizens and you
there’s their Malaysian citizens and you
there’s their Malaysian citizens and you have undocumented as in the children in
have undocumented as in the children in
have undocumented as in the children in Sabah but you also have children who are
Sabah but you also have children who are
Sabah but you also have children who are born overseas or whose parents have
born overseas or whose parents have
born overseas or whose parents have failed to register they like seven
failed to register they like seven
failed to register they like seven different categories so you have like
different categories so you have like
different categories so you have like the Rohini ins victims of conflicts of
the Rohini ins victims of conflicts of
the Rohini ins victims of conflicts of law you have children were trafficked
law you have children were trafficked
law you have children were trafficked like my daughter and they cannot go to
like my daughter and they cannot go to
like my daughter and they cannot go to any other country and because of that
any other country and because of that
any other country and because of that there are lots of consequences I told
there are lots of consequences I told
there are lots of consequences I told you that Malaysia has a reservation on
you that Malaysia has a reservation on
you that Malaysia has a reservation on article 8
article 8
article 8 the right-side entity Malaysia also has
the right-side entity Malaysia also has
the right-side entity Malaysia also has a reservation the UN CRC on article 28
a reservation the UN CRC on article 28
a reservation the UN CRC on article 28 which is the right to education the
which is the right to education the
which is the right to education the children in Malaysia in Malaysia who are
children in Malaysia in Malaysia who are
children in Malaysia in Malaysia who are not Malaysians who have no papers and
not Malaysians who have no papers and
not Malaysians who have no papers and not entitled to free and equal access to
not entitled to free and equal access to
not entitled to free and equal access to education so everything is danghang
education so everything is danghang
education so everything is danghang Srila so if you don’t have a hundred and
Srila so if you don’t have a hundred and
Srila so if you don’t have a hundred and eighty Wingert per year to go to a
eighty Wingert per year to go to a
eighty Wingert per year to go to a government school you can’t go to school
government school you can’t go to school
government school you can’t go to school sometimes they don’t even take you in
sometimes they don’t even take you in
sometimes they don’t even take you in the school so one of the things that we
the school so one of the things that we
the school so one of the things that we need to do in childcare in many places
need to do in childcare in many places
need to do in childcare in many places for NGOs who work with non leijen
for NGOs who work with non leijen
for NGOs who work with non leijen children is to try to find alternative
children is to try to find alternative
children is to try to find alternative education for them so that’s one of the
education for them so that’s one of the
education for them so that’s one of the biggest biggest sins I think that we do
biggest biggest sins I think that we do
biggest biggest sins I think that we do that we deny access to children to
that we deny access to children to
that we deny access to children to education to children there’s no
education to children there’s no
education to children there’s no education adequate health care so
education adequate health care so
education adequate health care so there’s no free and equal educational
there’s no free and equal educational
there’s no free and equal educational healthcare health services to children
healthcare health services to children
healthcare health services to children so it’s as simple as this if you have an
so it’s as simple as this if you have an
so it’s as simple as this if you have an outbreak of measles everybody get some
outbreak of measles everybody get some
outbreak of measles everybody get some users if you have an outbreak of
users if you have an outbreak of
users if you have an outbreak of chickenpox
chickenpox
chickenpox everybody gets chickenpox so there’s no
everybody gets chickenpox so there’s no
everybody gets chickenpox so there’s no actually have being able to monitor and
actually have being able to monitor and
actually have being able to monitor and look and take care of everybody when
look and take care of everybody when
look and take care of everybody when they don’t have access to free and equal
they don’t have access to free and equal
they don’t have access to free and equal health services and it’s a problem
health services and it’s a problem
health services and it’s a problem family instability unemployment poverty
family instability unemployment poverty
family instability unemployment poverty you read cases there is an assumption
you read cases there is an assumption
you read cases there is an assumption that there is a us-versus-them kind of a
that there is a us-versus-them kind of a
that there is a us-versus-them kind of a mentality where they are foreigners and
mentality where they are foreigners and
mentality where they are foreigners and we are Malaysians they’re not foreigners
we are Malaysians they’re not foreigners
we are Malaysians they’re not foreigners a lot of stateless people a Malaysian
a lot of stateless people a Malaysian
a lot of stateless people a Malaysian there’s just no documents and of course
there’s just no documents and of course
there’s just no documents and of course they know this increase social and
they know this increase social and
they know this increase social and financial marginalization as well
financial marginalization as well
financial marginalization as well exploitation so we have all these
exploitation so we have all these
exploitation so we have all these different things I was telling you about
different things I was telling you about
different things I was telling you about selling babies babies are trafficked for
selling babies babies are trafficked for
selling babies babies are trafficked for different reasons children are
different reasons children are
different reasons children are trafficked for different reasons organ
trafficked for different reasons organ
trafficked for different reasons organ harvesting they are so for begging
harvesting they are so for begging
harvesting they are so for begging purposes my daughter was I was actually
purposes my daughter was I was actually
purposes my daughter was I was actually meant or targeted to be a beggar in
meant or targeted to be a beggar in
meant or targeted to be a beggar in Thailand they were actually going to
Thailand they were actually going to
Thailand they were actually going to maim her and took her in a boat from
maim her and took her in a boat from
maim her and took her in a boat from flying straight to Thailand and because
flying straight to Thailand and because
flying straight to Thailand and because of that I had to stop I had to buy her
of that I had to stop I had to buy her
of that I had to stop I had to buy her back because I didn’t want that to
back because I didn’t want that to
back because I didn’t want that to happen to her but there’s lots of things
happen to her but there’s lots of things
happen to her but there’s lots of things labor begging etc pornography child
labor begging etc pornography child
labor begging etc pornography child prostitution so there’s lots of reasons
prostitution so there’s lots of reasons
prostitution so there’s lots of reasons why these children
why these children
why these children more vulnerable why do we care and why
more vulnerable why do we care and why
more vulnerable why do we care and why should we protect them because like you
should we protect them because like you
should we protect them because like you said the number is 190,000 but that’s
said the number is 190,000 but that’s
said the number is 190,000 but that’s only the registered number number of
only the registered number number of
only the registered number number of children we’re not talking about the
children we’re not talking about the
children we’re not talking about the ones who are not registered in Malaysia
ones who are not registered in Malaysia
ones who are not registered in Malaysia if you look at the number of children
if you look at the number of children
if you look at the number of children born out of wedlock in the last five
born out of wedlock in the last five
born out of wedlock in the last five years in slang no in Malaya how long the
years in slang no in Malaya how long the
years in slang no in Malaya how long the numbers are something like two hundred
numbers are something like two hundred
numbers are something like two hundred and fifty thousand children don’t forget
and fifty thousand children don’t forget
and fifty thousand children don’t forget having a birth certificate doesn’t give
having a birth certificate doesn’t give
having a birth certificate doesn’t give you citizenship yeah and if you are not
you citizenship yeah and if you are not
you citizenship yeah and if you are not if your parents are not married then the
if your parents are not married then the
if your parents are not married then the child follows the citizenship of the
child follows the citizenship of the
child follows the citizenship of the mother not the father right now as we
mother not the father right now as we
mother not the father right now as we speak there’s a whole conference going
speak there’s a whole conference going
speak there’s a whole conference going on in KL on Obinna binti and the child
on in KL on Obinna binti and the child
on in KL on Obinna binti and the child born out of wedlock conference and it’s
born out of wedlock conference and it’s
born out of wedlock conference and it’s connected everything is connected you
connected everything is connected you
connected everything is connected you have the whole different kinds of laws
have the whole different kinds of laws
have the whole different kinds of laws that have to be looked at and reviewed
that have to be looked at and reviewed
that have to be looked at and reviewed in terms of looking at how do you
in terms of looking at how do you
in terms of looking at how do you protect single mothers who have children
protect single mothers who have children
protect single mothers who have children born out of wedlock you cannot put a
born out of wedlock you cannot put a
born out of wedlock you cannot put a child I’m saying this because it just
child I’m saying this because it just
child I’m saying this because it just happened this morning when I was sitting
happened this morning when I was sitting
happened this morning when I was sitting here listening to you I got a text
here listening to you I got a text
here listening to you I got a text message about a case in Skype attorney
message about a case in Skype attorney
message about a case in Skype attorney where the girl is 21 years old and she
where the girl is 21 years old and she
where the girl is 21 years old and she has a child born out of wedlock and the
has a child born out of wedlock and the
has a child born out of wedlock and the hospital is taken her baby and called
hospital is taken her baby and called
hospital is taken her baby and called into the religious department because
into the religious department because
into the religious department because technically under the law in policy she
technically under the law in policy she
technically under the law in policy she can get arrested for zina so you know
can get arrested for zina so you know
can get arrested for zina so you know it’s a matter of having to step in and
it’s a matter of having to step in and
it’s a matter of having to step in and say I will guarantee to be her sponsor
say I will guarantee to be her sponsor
say I will guarantee to be her sponsor she’s not whatever you know whatever it
she’s not whatever you know whatever it
she’s not whatever you know whatever it is you don’t need to tell the mother her
is you don’t need to tell the mother her
is you don’t need to tell the mother her parents if you know she’s above 20 18
parents if you know she’s above 20 18
parents if you know she’s above 20 18 years old she just shouldn’t be arrested
years old she just shouldn’t be arrested
years old she just shouldn’t be arrested you shouldn’t take a baby but these are
you shouldn’t take a baby but these are
you shouldn’t take a baby but these are some of the reasons why single mothers
some of the reasons why single mothers
some of the reasons why single mothers and young girls you know and young
and young girls you know and young
and young girls you know and young parents in particular have a hard time
parents in particular have a hard time
parents in particular have a hard time stepping forward when when there’s a
stepping forward when when there’s a
stepping forward when when there’s a pregnancy and it’s a child born out of
pregnancy and it’s a child born out of
pregnancy and it’s a child born out of wedlock that’s terrif but these are some
wedlock that’s terrif but these are some
wedlock that’s terrif but these are some of the reasons how children are
of the reasons how children are
of the reasons how children are stateless and you have to understand
stateless and you have to understand
stateless and you have to understand something and I’m saying this to you
something and I’m saying this to you
something and I’m saying this to you because many of the children like I said
because many of the children like I said
because many of the children like I said who are here who the babies that I pick
who are here who the babies that I pick
who are here who the babies that I pick up our Malaysian children are children
up our Malaysian children are children
up our Malaysian children are children of young mothers who are afraid to step
of young mothers who are afraid to step
of young mothers who are afraid to step forward because they’re afraid of being
forward because they’re afraid of being
forward because they’re afraid of being arrested so they dump their child and
arrested so they dump their child and
arrested so they dump their child and I’m telling you there’s got to be other
I’m telling you there’s got to be other
I’m telling you there’s got to be other ways of being able to look at this issue
ways of being able to look at this issue
ways of being able to look at this issue so what’s the impact I talked about the
so what’s the impact I talked about the
so what’s the impact I talked about the fact that they have no access to
fact that they have no access to
fact that they have no access to education they have no access to health
education they have no access to health
education they have no access to health account get married they can’t open a
account get married they can’t open a
account get married they can’t open a bank account they can’t go to universe
bank account they can’t go to universe
bank account they can’t go to universe you know they are for all intents and
you know they are for all intents and
you know they are for all intents and purposes invisible but please understand
purposes invisible but please understand
purposes invisible but please understand that this is something that we can
that this is something that we can
that this is something that we can actually look at and there are solutions
actually look at and there are solutions
actually look at and there are solutions to it because they are man-made policies
to it because they are man-made policies
to it because they are man-made policies they are policies made by the government
they are policies made by the government
they are policies made by the government their policies made by people who need
their policies made by people who need
their policies made by people who need more in education who need to do to sort
more in education who need to do to sort
more in education who need to do to sort of engage with NGOs and people like me
of engage with NGOs and people like me
of engage with NGOs and people like me who want to tell them what’s going on
who want to tell them what’s going on
who want to tell them what’s going on because I don’t think they understand
because I don’t think they understand
because I don’t think they understand what the impact is a month ago I was in
what the impact is a month ago I was in
what the impact is a month ago I was in the Netherlands in Amsterdam at Tobin
the Netherlands in Amsterdam at Tobin
the Netherlands in Amsterdam at Tobin University which has a department called
University which has a department called
University which has a department called the Institute of statelessness and there
the Institute of statelessness and there
the Institute of statelessness and there I met with lawyers and other people who
I met with lawyers and other people who
I met with lawyers and other people who work on this issue on statelessness to
work on this issue on statelessness to
work on this issue on statelessness to look at how we could address the issue
look at how we could address the issue
look at how we could address the issue here
here
here I’ve told you there are different
I’ve told you there are different
I’ve told you there are different categories of stateless children the one
categories of stateless children the one
categories of stateless children the one that is easiest to solve easiest his
that is easiest to solve easiest his
that is easiest to solve easiest his children stateless children who have
children stateless children who have
children stateless children who have been adopted by Malaysian parents I have
been adopted by Malaysian parents I have
been adopted by Malaysian parents I have adopted six kids right I’m a single mom
adopted six kids right I’m a single mom
adopted six kids right I’m a single mom I have six kids
I have six kids
I have six kids one is Malaysian no it’s not about it’s
one is Malaysian no it’s not about it’s
one is Malaysian no it’s not about it’s not about so much about me but you know
not about so much about me but you know
not about so much about me but you know that’s not a sustainable thing for me to
that’s not a sustainable thing for me to
that’s not a sustainable thing for me to adopt every child that I see because
adopt every child that I see because
adopt every child that I see because they have no access to education but
they have no access to education but
they have no access to education but five of my kids are stateless right and
five of my kids are stateless right and
five of my kids are stateless right and and you sit there and three of them are
and you sit there and three of them are
and you sit there and three of them are special needs and they need health
special needs and they need health
special needs and they need health services you know they’re cerebral palsy
services you know they’re cerebral palsy
services you know they’re cerebral palsy they’re blind you know the little kids
they’re blind you know the little kids
they’re blind you know the little kids and so the purpose of me going there was
and so the purpose of me going there was
and so the purpose of me going there was to try to find experts in the field to
to try to find experts in the field to
to try to find experts in the field to teach me how to engage and advocate for
teach me how to engage and advocate for
teach me how to engage and advocate for these children and how the easiest
these children and how the easiest
these children and how the easiest category the easiest category is to give
category the easiest category is to give
category the easiest category is to give citizenship to children stateless
citizenship to children stateless
citizenship to children stateless children who have been illegally adopted
children who have been illegally adopted
children who have been illegally adopted by Malaysian parents so far in terms of
by Malaysian parents so far in terms of
by Malaysian parents so far in terms of application for statelessness there are
application for statelessness there are
application for statelessness there are 8,000 applications every year there is
8,000 applications every year there is
8,000 applications every year there is no reason why these children who have
no reason why these children who have
no reason why these children who have been legally adopted you’ve gone through
been legally adopted you’ve gone through
been legally adopted you’ve gone through the process should not be given
the process should not be given
the process should not be given citizenship my daughter shouldn’t wait
citizenship my daughter shouldn’t wait
citizenship my daughter shouldn’t wait nine years my son shouldn’t wait for my
nine years my son shouldn’t wait for my
nine years my son shouldn’t wait for my son are the son who’s two years old
son are the son who’s two years old
son are the son who’s two years old who’s got cerebral palsy in blind she’d
who’s got cerebral palsy in blind she’d
who’s got cerebral palsy in blind she’d have to pay a $2,000 deposit to go and
have to pay a $2,000 deposit to go and
have to pay a $2,000 deposit to go and see a doctor it’s just nuts right so you
see a doctor it’s just nuts right so you
see a doctor it’s just nuts right so you have these kind of problems they end up
have these kind of problems they end up
have these kind of problems they end up in jail they
in jail they
in jail they not in school they end up being
not in school they end up being
not in school they end up being trafficked they end up being lost they
trafficked they end up being lost they
trafficked they end up being lost they end up disappearing they end up being
end up disappearing they end up being
end up disappearing they end up being raped they end up being murdered
raped they end up being murdered
raped they end up being murdered I have cases so and you know and never
I have cases so and you know and never
I have cases so and you know and never mind the implications for long-term drug
mind the implications for long-term drug
mind the implications for long-term drug and alcohol problems mental health
and alcohol problems mental health
and alcohol problems mental health problems etc a hundred and ninety
problems etc a hundred and ninety
problems etc a hundred and ninety thousand stateless children is going to
thousand stateless children is going to
thousand stateless children is going to expand is going to increase
expand is going to increase
expand is going to increase exponentially 190,000 children by the
exponentially 190,000 children by the
exponentially 190,000 children by the time they’re 12 and 13 years old already
time they’re 12 and 13 years old already
time they’re 12 and 13 years old already have children themselves so you need to
have children themselves so you need to
have children themselves so you need to think of the problem you cannot say that
think of the problem you cannot say that
think of the problem you cannot say that this is not our problem
this is not our problem
this is not our problem this is our problem and this is
this is our problem and this is
this is our problem and this is something that we can solve we can say
something that we can solve we can say
something that we can solve we can say to the government we can say that
to the government we can say that
to the government we can say that policymakers please to be educated look
policymakers please to be educated look
policymakers please to be educated look at the impact of these things so when I
at the impact of these things so when I
at the impact of these things so when I went to Tilburg University we sat down
went to Tilburg University we sat down
went to Tilburg University we sat down with the lawyers said on it sit let’s
with the lawyers said on it sit let’s
with the lawyers said on it sit let’s look at all the seven categories let’s
look at all the seven categories let’s
look at all the seven categories let’s look at the one that is easiest to solve
look at the one that is easiest to solve
look at the one that is easiest to solve that children who have been adopted and
that children who have been adopted and
that children who have been adopted and how do we advocate so I wrote and we sat
how do we advocate so I wrote and we sat
how do we advocate so I wrote and we sat down and they helped me trough a
down and they helped me trough a
down and they helped me trough a memorandum – with all the reasons why
memorandum – with all the reasons why
memorandum – with all the reasons why these children should be given
these children should be given
these children should be given citizenship we spoke to to them we spoke
citizenship we spoke to to them we spoke
citizenship we spoke to to them we spoke to lawyers at the International Court of
to lawyers at the International Court of
to lawyers at the International Court of Justice we came back and he spoke to
Justice we came back and he spoke to
Justice we came back and he spoke to lawyers over here and we’d said you know
lawyers over here and we’d said you know
lawyers over here and we’d said you know what we need to approach this from a
what we need to approach this from a
what we need to approach this from a multi prong approach one is through
multi prong approach one is through
multi prong approach one is through court so there’s one court case right
court so there’s one court case right
court so there’s one court case right now in High Court looking at challenging
now in High Court looking at challenging
now in High Court looking at challenging the citizenship argument a child who’s
the citizenship argument a child who’s
the citizenship argument a child who’s been adopted by Malaysian parents we
been adopted by Malaysian parents we
been adopted by Malaysian parents we need to send the memorandum to the Prime
need to send the memorandum to the Prime
need to send the memorandum to the Prime Minister we need to look at different
Minister we need to look at different
Minister we need to look at different ways access to education would be great
ways access to education would be great
ways access to education would be great that’s one way of looking at it it
that’s one way of looking at it it
that’s one way of looking at it it doesn’t necessarily be citizenship
doesn’t necessarily be citizenship
doesn’t necessarily be citizenship straight away but access to education in
straight away but access to education in
straight away but access to education in health services how can you deny a child
health services how can you deny a child
health services how can you deny a child schooling how do you not want to empower
schooling how do you not want to empower
schooling how do you not want to empower a child to do better if you don’t want
a child to do better if you don’t want
a child to do better if you don’t want them to stay in this country because you
them to stay in this country because you
them to stay in this country because you think they belong to others wouldn’t you
think they belong to others wouldn’t you
think they belong to others wouldn’t you want them to have some kind of skills so
want them to have some kind of skills so
want them to have some kind of skills so they could leave I mean that’s just a
they could leave I mean that’s just a
they could leave I mean that’s just a common sense right so this is what’s
common sense right so this is what’s
common sense right so this is what’s happening now the raids the raids that
happening now the raids the raids that
happening now the raids the raids that are happening foreigners they’re not
are happening foreigners they’re not
are happening foreigners they’re not migrant workers alone who are being
migrant workers alone who are being
migrant workers alone who are being raided and who are being picked up
raided and who are being picked up
raided and who are being picked up stateless people are as well we’ve got a
stateless people are as well we’ve got a
stateless people are as well we’ve got a 15 year old who’s in detention
15 year old who’s in detention
15 year old who’s in detention for two years we have lots of other
for two years we have lots of other
for two years we have lots of other cases elsewhere we’ve got traffic
cases elsewhere we’ve got traffic
cases elsewhere we’ve got traffic children who are in our keiki room
children who are in our keiki room
children who are in our keiki room occupied you can connect cannot in
occupied you can connect cannot in
occupied you can connect cannot in quantum they’ve been there for five
quantum they’ve been there for five
quantum they’ve been there for five years we have nowhere to go there are
years we have nowhere to go there are
years we have nowhere to go there are lots of little incidences that you think
lots of little incidences that you think
lots of little incidences that you think don’t mean very much but they add up and
don’t mean very much but they add up and
don’t mean very much but they add up and we need to look at the issue why protect
we need to look at the issue why protect
we need to look at the issue why protect them because they’re ours because they
them because they’re ours because they
them because they’re ours because they have nowhere else to go
have nowhere else to go
have nowhere else to go I know I sound totally depressing I
I know I sound totally depressing I
I know I sound totally depressing I promise you I’m a really nice friendly
promise you I’m a really nice friendly
promise you I’m a really nice friendly happy person but this is a very serious
happy person but this is a very serious
happy person but this is a very serious topic and it’s something that’s so
topic and it’s something that’s so
topic and it’s something that’s so unnecessary because all you need to do
unnecessary because all you need to do
unnecessary because all you need to do is do the investigation and if you find
is do the investigation and if you find
is do the investigation and if you find out that they have nobody else or no-one
out that they have nobody else or no-one
out that they have nobody else or no-one else then give them citizenship because
else then give them citizenship because
else then give them citizenship because you want them to be productive it’s not
you want them to be productive it’s not
you want them to be productive it’s not something that’s so terribly difficult
something that’s so terribly difficult
something that’s so terribly difficult to do so that’s why you know why do we
to do so that’s why you know why do we
to do so that’s why you know why do we bother because we should because because
bother because we should because because
bother because we should because because children are our future because they
children are our future because they
children are our future because they have nowhere else to go because out of
have nowhere else to go because out of
have nowhere else to go because out of the common decency of a heart and
the common decency of a heart and
the common decency of a heart and because they are ten for all intents and
because they are ten for all intents and
because they are ten for all intents and purposes Malaysian children they are
purposes Malaysian children they are
purposes Malaysian children they are then they should stay and you should
then they should stay and you should
then they should stay and you should give them something and this is
give them something and this is
give them something and this is something we need to do and this is
something we need to do and this is
something we need to do and this is something that will touch you because I
something that will touch you because I
something that will touch you because I don’t know I just feel that you all know
don’t know I just feel that you all know
don’t know I just feel that you all know someone who knows someone who knows
someone who knows someone who knows
someone who knows someone who knows someone who most probably didn’t get the
someone who most probably didn’t get the
someone who most probably didn’t get the documents or maybe pregnant maybe had
documents or maybe pregnant maybe had
documents or maybe pregnant maybe had some child out of wedlock or thinking of
some child out of wedlock or thinking of
some child out of wedlock or thinking of throwing away their child or putting
throwing away their child or putting
throwing away their child or putting their child up for adoption or not
their child up for adoption or not
their child up for adoption or not taking care of them you know there are
taking care of them you know there are
taking care of them you know there are places to go and there are people to see
places to go and there are people to see
places to go and there are people to see and there are NGOs and organizations who
and there are NGOs and organizations who
and there are NGOs and organizations who will work with all of you who will keep
will work with all of you who will keep
will work with all of you who will keep you safe will protect you who you know
you safe will protect you who you know
you safe will protect you who you know if you want to keep your child who will
if you want to keep your child who will
if you want to keep your child who will help you do that
help you do that
help you do that or if you want to give up your child
or if you want to give up your child
or if you want to give up your child there’s a way to do that too but rather
there’s a way to do that too but rather
there’s a way to do that too but rather you keep your child and you know and
you keep your child and you know and
you keep your child and you know and there’s no need for for any one of these
there’s no need for for any one of these
there’s no need for for any one of these categories to exists because we don’t
categories to exists because we don’t
categories to exists because we don’t need to abandon children so that’s
need to abandon children so that’s
need to abandon children so that’s really what my topics about you know I
really what my topics about you know I
really what my topics about you know I think there are many things that are
think there are many things that are
think there are many things that are going on if you know like I said what’s
going on if you know like I said what’s
going on if you know like I said what’s happening to the ruine does they are
happening to the ruine does they are
happening to the ruine does they are stateless what’s that what’s happening
stateless what’s that what’s happening
stateless what’s that what’s happening there is genocide what needs to happen
there is genocide what needs to happen
there is genocide what needs to happen is that we need to protect them we don’t
is that we need to protect them we don’t
is that we need to protect them we don’t even have to look outside within our own
even have to look outside within our own
even have to look outside within our own state with UNH within our own country
state with UNH within our own country
state with UNH within our own country with UNHCR we have a hundred and
with UNHCR we have a hundred and
with UNHCR we have a hundred and 80,000 refugees a hundred and ninety
80,000 refugees a hundred and ninety
80,000 refugees a hundred and ninety eight thousand actually of which forty
eight thousand actually of which forty
eight thousand actually of which forty percent are children they’re not in
percent are children they’re not in
percent are children they’re not in school you look at the numbers of
school you look at the numbers of
school you look at the numbers of stateless we said a hundred ninety I
stateless we said a hundred ninety I
stateless we said a hundred ninety I think the numbers of three times higher
think the numbers of three times higher
think the numbers of three times higher you look at migrant workers and you look
you look at migrant workers and you look
you look at migrant workers and you look at but they have children whether you
at but they have children whether you
at but they have children whether you want to think they have children the
want to think they have children the
want to think they have children the numbers are much higher than the four
numbers are much higher than the four
numbers are much higher than the four percent that the official statistics are
percent that the official statistics are
percent that the official statistics are saying it’s a lot higher than that’s
saying it’s a lot higher than that’s
saying it’s a lot higher than that’s almost a million a million people in a
almost a million a million people in a
almost a million a million people in a population of thirty point one is a lot
population of thirty point one is a lot
population of thirty point one is a lot of people not to be in school and not to
of people not to be in school and not to
of people not to be in school and not to have education and health services and
have education and health services and
have education and health services and this is something I’m not a doomsayer
this is something I’m not a doomsayer
this is something I’m not a doomsayer like oh my god it’s the end of the world
like oh my god it’s the end of the world
like oh my god it’s the end of the world oh you know I’m saying this is something
oh you know I’m saying this is something
oh you know I’m saying this is something that’s manmade that we can take care of
that’s manmade that we can take care of
that’s manmade that we can take care of that we need to do something it’s
that we need to do something it’s
that we need to do something it’s something that you can do the issue on
something that you can do the issue on
something that you can do the issue on stainless honest doesn’t have to be such
stainless honest doesn’t have to be such
stainless honest doesn’t have to be such a dramatic subject and so it doesn’t
a dramatic subject and so it doesn’t
a dramatic subject and so it doesn’t have to be such a dramatic issue with
have to be such a dramatic issue with
have to be such a dramatic issue with such dramatic you know consequences it’s
such dramatic you know consequences it’s
such dramatic you know consequences it’s something that you and I and everybody
something that you and I and everybody
something that you and I and everybody else can look at and talk about if you
else can look at and talk about if you
else can look at and talk about if you want to know what you can do as
want to know what you can do as
want to know what you can do as individuals well if you’re interested in
individuals well if you’re interested in
individuals well if you’re interested in being lawyer and Human Rights I’m not a
being lawyer and Human Rights I’m not a
being lawyer and Human Rights I’m not a lawyer human rights but I know lawyers
lawyer human rights but I know lawyers
lawyer human rights but I know lawyers are we’re human rights lawyers if you
are we’re human rights lawyers if you
are we’re human rights lawyers if you want to do work on just protecting
want to do work on just protecting
want to do work on just protecting children or working with your local NGO
children or working with your local NGO
children or working with your local NGO or local home to protect children you
or local home to protect children you
or local home to protect children you can do that if you want to help children
can do that if you want to help children
can do that if you want to help children educate themselves and empower
educate themselves and empower
educate themselves and empower themselves poor kids in your
themselves poor kids in your
themselves poor kids in your neighborhood and stuff we want to do
neighborhood and stuff we want to do
neighborhood and stuff we want to do that please do that there are lots of
that please do that there are lots of
that please do that there are lots of different ways if you want to talk about
different ways if you want to talk about
different ways if you want to talk about this issue you can see me after this and
this issue you can see me after this and
this issue you can see me after this and talk to me about it but I’m just saying
talk to me about it but I’m just saying
talk to me about it but I’m just saying this is something that is happening it’s
this is something that is happening it’s
this is something that is happening it’s happening today it’s happening right now
happening today it’s happening right now
happening today it’s happening right now it’s not that far away it’s not it’s not
it’s not that far away it’s not it’s not
it’s not that far away it’s not it’s not it’s not something that’s in fathomable
it’s not something that’s in fathomable
it’s not something that’s in fathomable it’s right here in our doorstep and it’s
it’s right here in our doorstep and it’s
it’s right here in our doorstep and it’s something we can fix otherwise I
something we can fix otherwise I
something we can fix otherwise I wouldn’t be here so with that thank you
wouldn’t be here so with that thank you
wouldn’t be here so with that thank you very much again
very much again
very much again you
you
you [Music]
”
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