Qyira Yusri
Qyira is the Co-Founder and Education Director of #Undi18. #Undi18 is a Malaysian grassroots movement, spearheaded by a group of young people that successfully lobbied the Government and Parliament of Malaysia to take steps toward amending Article 119(1) of the Federal Constitution to reduce the minimum voting age in Malaysia from 21 to 18 years old.
Qyira has participated in and coordinated multiple direct action activities in response to advocating for freedom of public assembly, speech and political inclusion. In 2022, she was appointed as the Special Adviser on Youth to EU Commissioner, Jutta Urpilainen. With #Undi18, she leads the voter education initiatives by creating workshop modules and creative content to ensure that by GE15, Malaysian youths are prepared to vote. Some programs and initiatives they've organized are Parlimen Digital, Seeds For Democracy, Youth Defence Summit, and more.
In Malaysia, the country's monolithic Barisan Nasional has ruled for 60 years. Prime Minister Najib Razak’s rise to power was characterized by an increased repression of civil society and human rights defenders and a lockdown on public debate. Authorities intensified their crackdown on anti-corruption protesters in the wake of embezzlement allegations involving top politicians. Authorities have also used censorship legislation to silence debate on human rights issues. As of October 2017, the government has yet to accept requests by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders to visit the country.
Human rights defenders in Malaysia face judicial harassment, arbitrary arrest, threats, intimidation and smear campaigns. HRDs active against corruption, calling for electoral reform and free and fair election, such as members of the Bersih 2.0 movement, are particularly vulnerable and can be targeted for participating in peaceful protests. LGBTI rights defenders also face widespread discrimination and harassment.
