Malaysia has secured a strong international mandate after Dato’ Yasmeen Muhamad Shariff received the highest number of votes to serve as a member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) for the 2027–2031 term.
The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development said Dato’ Yasmeen obtained 136 votes from 189 State Parties during the election held at the 21st Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 23 June 2026. It marks her second term on the committee after previously serving from 2013 to 2017.
The ministry said the result reflects international confidence in Malaysia’s commitment to advancing child rights in line with the principles of the CRC. It also follows Malaysia’s participation in the Constructive Dialogue with the CRC Committee held on 22 and 23 January 2026 in Geneva, where the country’s efforts were recognised and commended.
As part of its ongoing engagement, Malaysia has also conducted outreach initiatives including the programme “A Journey of Malaysia’s Participation under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)”, which involved foreign diplomatic representatives in Malaysia to share the country’s progress and commitments.
The ministry said the achievement was the result of close cooperation between the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which supported the nomination process and international engagement efforts.
As a CRC Committee member, Dato’ Yasmeen will serve in her personal capacity and contribute to monitoring the implementation of the convention, engaging in constructive dialogue with state parties and promoting rights-based approaches to issues affecting children globally.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to continue working with government agencies and international partners to strengthen child rights protection at both national and global levels, adding that Malaysia will continue to support efforts ensuring no child is left behind.
