The flags of ASEAN and its member states (Photo: ) The meeting, held from May 22-26, gave updates on recentdevelopments on human rights in the region, including new laws and regulationsat the national level related to human rights, and human rights initiatives byASEAN member states as presented by the AICHR Representatives of Indonesia,Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Participants discussed the implementation of AICHR’sPriority Programmes/Activities with a focus on business and human rights, theenvironment and climate change, the right to education, rights of persons withdisabilities, children’s and women’s rights, disinformation, hate speech, andhuman rights. Also discussed was victim-oriented protection to counter radicalisation and violentextremism, prevention, and countering torture, among other topics.
In preparation for the annual interface between the ASEANForeign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and AICHR to be held in July, the zero draftsof the AICHR Annual Report 2023, the Statement of AICHR to the 56th AMM, andthe Priority Programmes/Activities of AICHR 2024 were put on the table.Preparations for the AICHR-UN Dialogue on Human Rights, AICHR Study Visit toSwitzerland, and the 5th ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights were alsodeliberated.
On May 24, the AICHR met with the ASEAN Senior OfficialsMeeting Responsible for Information (SOMRI), represented by SOMRI Vietnam, fordiscussions on priorities and initiatives pertaining to human rights,information, and media. It also met with representatives of the ASEAN UniversityNetwork – Human Rights Education (AUN HRE) to discuss further cooperation inthe promotion of human rights and peace in higher education in Southeast Asia.
The AICHR convened other interfaces with stakeholders anddialogue partners, which include a meeting with the Southeast Asia NationalHuman Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF), and a meeting with the US,which discussed possible areas of cooperation in 2023 and beyond.
On May 25, the AICHR exchanged views and continued to assessthe general concept of the proposed “ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration onInstitutionalising ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue” following the briefing on theproposed elements as Indonesia’s chairmanship initiative presented by theDirector for ASEAN Political-Security Cooperation of the Indonesian Ministry ofForeign Affairs.
On May 26, the commission held its fourth Interface with theCivil Society Organisations (CSOs) with Consultative Relationship with AICHR tofurther promote an enabling environment for meaningful and constructiveengagement and interaction between AICHR and the accredited CSOs for thepromotion and protection of human rights./.
VNA
