PRESS RELEASE – 27th Meeting of the AICHR, 13-17 May 2018, ASEAN Secretariat
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened its 27th Meeting from 13 to 17 May 2018 at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Ambassador Barry Desker, Representative of Singapore to the AICHR.
The AICHR held its first meeting with the Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi since his taking office in January 2018 and discussed key priorities of the AICHR to further improve the rights of peoples of ASEAN. At the annual meeting between the AICHR and CPR both ASEAN bodies exchanged views on enhancing ASEAN agenda in the promotion and protection of human rights in line with ASEAN’s principles.
During this four-day meeting, the AICHR was updated on the implementation of the AICHR Priority Programmes/Activities in various thematic areas, and adopted the concept note on Article 14 of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration to be conducted in 2018. The AICHR also noted the report of AICHR Training on Business and Human Rights conducted in Thailand last year.
The AICHR also held its first meeting with the United Nations and its agencies, and deliberated on possible areas for future cooperation between the AICHR and the UN on various human rights themes. To enhance the AICHR’s engagement with ASEAN Dialogue Partners, the AICHR also met with the United States, Australia, and Canada to discuss potential areas for future cooperation on human rights themes of mutual interest.
The Meeting expressed its appreciation to the ASEAN Secretariat for the excellent arrangements of the meeting. The AICHR will convene its next meeting in July 2018 in Singapore.