The Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR) and Internews welcome you to the Youth Advocacy Academy on Freedom of Expression (the Academy). As part of MCCHR’s flagship project, Sekolah Aktivisme, the Academy aims to empower a new generation of youth leaders to effectively advocate for the right to freedom of expression (FOE) in Malaysia.

For a country such as Malaysia that has a median age of 28, young people represent a powerful social and political force if they are empowered to meaningfully participate in nation-building. Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai are present examples of fearless young advocates who overcome intimidations or harassments meant to silence their voice. Exercising the right to free speech is a precursor to a diverse and representative landscape of ideas and actions, which contributes to a more progressive society. To support this vision, the Academy aims to equip emerging leaders from across the country with the skills, tools and network to craft effective and innovative advocacy campaigns.

The Academy is designed to deliver the specially curated curriculum in two parts. Part I builds the participants’ understanding and advocacy knowledge through online webinars on topics such as international human rights treaties, fundamental liberties in the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, censorship and hate speech in Malaysia, right to peaceful assembly, freedom of information, grant writing, budgeting, and funding prospects.

Part II offers one-week experiential learning on leadership, campaigning and advocacy, plus an immersion opportunity with key stakeholders such as non-government organizations (NGOs), newsrooms, media organizations and government agencies to better understand the socio-legal environment in Malaysia concerning FOE.

Participants will be trained by experts from MCCHR, Suaram, Article 19, CIJ, Sinar Project and others. A small grant is also available for participants to implement their advocacy project by February 2021.

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PART I: ONLINE TRAINING

Sat, 17 Oct

Tue, 20 Oct · 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Introduction to International Human Rights Framework and Constitutional Guarantee of Fundamental Liberties
– Firdaus Husni (MCCHR)

Thu, 22 Oct · 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Hate Speech and Other Forms of Intolerance in Malaysia
– Nalini Elumalai (Article 19)

Tue, 27 Oct · 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Freedom of Expression and Incitement to Atrocities to Crime
– Toh Nyon Nyin (MCCHR)

Thu, 29 Oct · 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Censorship in Malaysia
– Anna Har (FFN)

Tue, 3 Nov · 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Right to Peaceful Assembly
Mr Sevan Doraisamy (Suaram)

Thu, 5 Nov · 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Advocating Freedom of Expression Through Parliament
Mr Khairil Yusof (Sinar Project)

Tue, 10 Nov · 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Right to Freedom of Information
– Watshlah Naidu (CIJ)

Thu, 12 Nov · 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Expression and Gender-based Violence
– Serene Ong (KRYSS)

Tue, 17 Nov · 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Freedom of Expression and Digital Rights
Mr Dobby Chew (Suaram)

Thu, 19 Nov · 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Grant Writing and Budgeting
– Firdaus Husni (MCCHR)

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PART II: IN-PERSON TRAINING

Sun, 29 Nov

2:00 – 4:00 pm
Introduction
Housekeeping
Ground Rules
– Mazni Ibrahim (MCCHR)

4:00 – 4:30 pm
Afternoon Break

4:30 – 6:00 pm
Idola Demokrasi: Where Do You Stand?
– Toh Nyon Nyin (MCCHR)

6:00 – 8:00 pm
Check-in
Dinner

8:00 – 10:00 pm
Human Rights Film Screening & Discussion [OFF-SITE]

Mon, 30 Nov

9:00 – 10:30 am
Idola Demokrasi: Spaceship
– Khairil Zhafri (MCCHR)

10:30 – 11:00 am
Morning Break

11:00 – 1:00 pm
Idola Demokrasi: Spaceship (cont’d)
– Khairil Zhafri (MCCHR)

1:00 – 2:00 pm
Lunch

2:00 – 4:00 pm
Idola Demokrasi: Problem Tree Analysis
– Toh Nyon Nyin (MCCHR)

4:00 – 4:30 pm
Afternoon Break

4:30 – 5:00 pm
Idola Demokrasi: Problem Tree Analysis (cont’d)
– Toh Nyon Nyin (MCCHR)

Tue, 1 Dec

9:00 – 10:00 am
Recap

10:00 – 10:30 am
Morning Break

10:30 – 1:00 pm
Idola Demokrasi: Big Picture Analysis
– Firdaus Husni (MCCHR)

1:00 – 2:00 pm
Lunch

2:00 – 4:00 pm
Idola Demokrasi: Action Pyramid
– Khairil Zhafri (MCCHR)

4:00 – 4:30 pm
Afternoon Break

4:30 – 5:30 pm
Idola Demokrasi: Action Pyramid (cont’d)
– Khairil Zhafri (MCCHR)

Evaluation

Wed, 2 Dec

9:00 – 5:00 pm
CSO Meetings [OFF-SITE]

Thu, 3 Dec

9:00 – 5:00 pm
CSO Meetings [OFF-SITE]

Fri, 4 Dec

9:00 – 10:00 am
Recap

10:00 – 12:00 pm
Student Power & Visual Communication
– Fahmi Reza

1:00 – 2:00 pm
Lunch

2:00 – 5:00 pm
Student Power & Visual Communication (cont’d)
– Fahmi Reza

Evaluation

Sat, 5 Dec

9:00 – 10:00 am
Coaching: Making an Impact
– Betty Yeoh

10:00 – 11:30 am
Morning Break

11:30 – 1:00 pm
Coaching: Making an Impact (cont’d)
– Betty Yeoh

1:00 – 2:00 pm
Lunch

2:00 – 5:00 pm
Coaching: Making an Impact (cont’d)
– Betty Yeoh

Evaluation

8:00 pm
BBQ Dinner

Sun, 6 Dec

9:00 – 10:00 am
Recap

10:00 – 10:30 am
Morning Break
Check-out

10:30 – 12:30 pm
Capstone Project Briefing
– Wan Nurul Hanani (Internews)

12:30 pm
Lunch

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THE ORGANISERS

MCCHR is a non-partisan and not-for-profit organisation established in March 2011. The Center’s core mission is to provide an integrated approach towards the protection and promotion of human rights in Malaysia through its civic education (UndiMsia!), strategic litigation and law reform programmes.
www.mcchr.org

Internews empowers people worldwide with the trustworthy, high-quality news and information they need to make informed decisions, participate in their communities, and hold power to account. We seek to realize the potential of a digitally connected world: a world in which evidence-based information advances human progress, enables broad opportunity and accountability, and fuels vibrant civic debate.
www.internews.org