More than 140 legal professionals gathered online last week for a landmark webinar co-hosted by the Malaysian Bar Council, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), highlighting the continuing growth in the shifting of mindsets within the criminal justice system.
The webinar series introduced the Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering (Méndez Principles), an international framework designed to prevent torture from the earliest moments of police custody and help create an effective interview system supported by the implementation of legal and procedural safeguards.
The webinars focused on a critical window in the criminal justice process: the initial hours following arrest. Research by APT shows that this is the period of greatest risk for torture and ill-treatment, especially when interrogation practices aim to extract confessions. Such practices, the speakers warned, have led to unreliable evidence, wrongful convictions, and devastating miscarriages of justice worldwide.
Malaysia has already expressed support for the Principles in international forums, including joint statements at the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly. The webinar aimed to build on this momentum by introducing them to practicing Malaysian lawyers so that they can better appreciate their important roles as a safeguard against torture, and exploring how the Principles could be implemented in national law and practice.
The series featured a distinguished panel of speakers who brought a range of legal, academic, and human rights expertise. Director of IBAHRI, Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, opened the series with a compelling keynote address. Other speakers included Nid Satjipanon (APT), Dr Kai Li Chung (APT), international human rights lawyer Alka Pradhan, Cath Kent (IBAHRI), and representatives of the Bar Council Human Rights Committee, including Deputy Chairperson Abang Iwawan and Committee Member Goh Cia Yee. Their contributions highlighted both global best practices and the specific challenges and opportunities within the Malaysian legal context.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks for your participation in and contribution to our recent webinar on the Mendez Principles. The session was much needed and, by all accounts, a tremendous success," said Larissa Ann Louis, Head of the Pro Bono Unit of Messrs Azri, Lee Swee Seng & Co. "I’m certain the discussion helped our legal community here in Malaysia, delve deeper into the Méndez Principles with greater clarity and understanding. For us Malaysians, it was a timely opportunity to engage meaningfully with these principles, which we believe are critical in our efforts to strengthen the legal framework and, ultimately, safeguard individual rights. [APT's] insights were instrumental in making this webinar impactful, and we are grateful for your support. We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate.”
Participants engaged in rich discussions on how legal professionals can play a proactive role in safeguarding suspects' rights and preventing the use of coerced evidence. The success of the webinar signals strong interest in further aligning Malaysia’s legal practices with international standards for effective interviewing and the importance of safeguards.
