Press Release of the Eighth Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the Third Meeting of AICHR on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD)
Press Release of the Eighth Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the Third Meeting of AICHR on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD)
ASEAN Secretariat, 9 – 13 March 2012
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened the Eighth Meeting of AICHR and the Third Meeting of AICHR on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) from 9 – 13 March 2012 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Meetings were chaired by H.E. Chet Chealy, Member of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee, the Alternate Representative of Cambodia to AICHR.
AICHR has reviewed and adopted the Guidelines on the Operations of AICHR. AICHR also had preliminary discussion on the guidelines for engagement with stakeholders, including civil society organisations (CSOs). The Meeting also discussed the implementation of the Priority Programmes/Activities 2012. AICHR has agreed on the Advanced Programme on Human Rights and the AICHR-Training programme on promoting Access to Justice. These two trainings are scheduled to be implemented later in the year. In addition to this, the AICHR Thematic Study on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is scheduled to hold its first Coordination Meeting for the Study Team members and National Focal Points in May 2012 in Singapore.
The Meeting discussed the preparation for AICHR’s interface meeting with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers at the upcoming ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and 20th ASEAN Summit on 2 April 2012, as well as the progress report of AICHR on the drafting of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. AICHR also had its regular interface meeting with the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) where the two bodies exchanged views on further strengthening the coordination and cooperation between the CPR and AICHR, information sharing with AICHR and AICHR’s engagement of ASEAN Dialogue Partners.
AICHR also held their Third Meeting to deliberate on the draft AHRD. AICHR is currently negotiating the provisions under the section of Civil and Political Rights.
The next AICHR Meeting on 9 – 11 April 2012 in Jakarta, Indonesia will continue the deliberations on the draft AHRD.