The Seventh Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)

The Seventh Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) on an ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) and the Second Regional Consultation of AICHR on the AHRD

Kuala Lumpur, 22 – 23 June 2012

The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) held its Seventh Meeting on the draft ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) on 22 – 23 June 2012 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Dr. Chet Chealy, Member of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee, the Alternate Representative of Cambodia to AICHR and Chair of AICHR.

During the course of the Meeting, on 22 June 2012, AICHR conducted their Second Regional Consultation with 53 representatives from 36 national, regional and international civil society organizations (CSOs) in order to get their inputs and contributions to the development of the AHRD. The consultation was engaging, constructive and productive as it brought many fresh ideas and different perspectives for AICHR’s consideration for the further enrichment of the draft AHRD. Both AICHR and the civil society representatives highly appreciated the consultation and looked forward to more consultation in the future.

At this Meeting, the AICHR has finalized the draft AHRD, a landmark document that provides a framework on human rights cooperation in ASEAN as well as their 2012 Annual Report which will be submitted to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in July 2012. The draft AHRD will be adopted by the ASEAN Leaders in November 2012 in Cambodia.

The Meeting expressed appreciation to the Representative of Malaysia to AICHR, the Host, for the hospitality and excellent arrangements for the Meeting.