Human Rights Defenders #4: Francis Johen

In this eight-part series with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), we speak to the eight appointed commissioners about their work, find out why they are passionate about human rights, and the issues that they will pursue during their three-year terms. This week, we hear from Francis Johen, who was re-appointed for a second term as commissioner in 2016.

Francis was a law tutor at University of Malaya before going into public service. He served at various positions and levels in the Sarawak government, including Senior Legal Officer in the Sarawak State Attorney-General Chamber and then the Deputy Attorney-General for Sarawak, before retiring as Senior Administrative Officer (Legal) at the Ministry of Local Government & Community Development of Sarawak. As a person with disabilities himself, Francis has encountered discrimination despite his qualifications, and has been championing disability rights since 1976.