The Second Regional Consultation of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)

The Second Regional Consultation of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and the Ninth Meeting of AICHR on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD)

Manila, Philippines, 12 -14 September 2012

The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) has concluded the Second Regional Consultation with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD), and the Ninth Meeting on the AHRD, from 12 – 14 September 2012 in Manila, Philippines. The Consultation and Meeting were chaired by H.E. Dr. Chet Chealy, Member of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC), the Alternate Representative of Cambodia to AICHR and Chair of AICHR.

The Second Regional Consultation was conducted with stakeholders after the submission of the first draft of the AHRD to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in July 2012. Throughout the consultation, AICHR received inputs from representatives of national, regional and international CSOs on the AHRD. The consultation enabled a constructive dialogue between AICHR and the representatives of CSOs.

At their Ninth Meeting on the AHRD, AICHR discussed and considered the inputs received from CSOs to further refine the draft AHRD. In addition, AICHR also met with Regional Experts from Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand to seek their views and inputs on the AHRD. AICHR will submit an improved draft AHRD for the consideration of the Informal ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (IAMM), end of September in New York, USA.

The Meeting expressed appreciation to the Host, the Representative of the Philippines to AICHR, and the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, for the hospitality and excellent arrangements for the Meeting. The next Meeting of AICHR is expected to take place next week in Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia.