Jerald Joseph

For the last 20 years, Mr Jerald Joseph has been a human rights defender and trainer consultant at both local and international levels. He specialises in human rights issues concerning the rights of Indigenous Peoples, elimination of racial discrimination, economic, social and cultural rights, as well as Human Rights Based Approach in Development (HRBA).

Pioneering the programme of non-discrimination, Jerald’s work culminated in visits by the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues, to Malaysia

Mr Jerald Joseph received his Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial Chemistry from University Science Malaysia. He subsequently earned his Masters in Human Rights from Mahidol University, Thailand.

He was one of the senior civil society members who led the Malaysian NGO’s reporting to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group in Geneva and had engaged with key stakeholders during Malaysia’s previous UPR process.

Mr Jerald Joseph’s active engagement with the ACSC/ASEAN People’s Forum (APF) process since 2006 had led to his election as the Chair of the Regional Steering Committee for APF in 2015. As APF Chair, he negotiated for an ASEAN People’s Statement which was presented to the ASEAN Chair prior to the ASEAN Summit. He also instituted the Terms and Engagement Modality and led the interface dialogues for the 2015 APF.

He also served as a member of various human rights organisations including the Commonwealth Foundation, Asian South Pacific Bureau for Adult Education, Asia-Pacific NGO Steering Committee of World Conference against Racism (WCAR).

Previously Jerald served as Human Rights Commissioner with SUHAKAM.