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

Special Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), the Second Regional Consultation of AICHR with ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, and the Eighth Meeting of AICHR on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD)

Brunei Darussalam, 24 – 26 August 2012

From 24 to 26 August 2012,the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)conducted a series of meetings in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. They held their Special Meeting of AICHR, the Second Regional Consultation of AICHR with ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, and the Eighth Meeting of AICHR on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD). The meetings and consultation were chaired by H.E. Om Yentieng, Senior Minister and President of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC), the Representative of Cambodia and Chair of AICHR.

During its Special Meeting, AICHR concluded the formulation of the AICHR Priority Programmes/Activities for 2013 with its indicative annual budget and the concept papers as well as budget on the two trainings that will be implemented by the Representative of Thailand.

At the Second Regional Consultation with ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, AICHR further consulted with the ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, as directed by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers following the submission of the first draft of the AHRD to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) in July 2012. The purpose of this Consultation is to get further inputs and comments from the ASEAN Sectoral Bodies. During the Consultation, AICHR shared the elements of the draft AHRD. Among the Sectoral Bodies present at the consultation was the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW), the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials Meeting(ADSOM), the Senior Labour Officials Meeting (SLOM) and the Senior Officials Meeting on Health Development (SOM-HD).

At the Eighth Meeting on the AHRD, AICHR discussed the inputs from the ASEAN Sectoral Bodies for the further improvement of the draft AHRD before submission to the Foreign Ministers at the Informal AMM (IAMM) at the end of September 2012.

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