Press Release: Special Meeting 02/2018 of the AICHR, 27-29 November 2018, Singapore
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened its second Special Meeting in 2018 from 27 to 29 November 2018 in Singapore. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Ambassador Barry Desker, Representative of Singapore to the AICHR.
The Meeting discussed the implementation of the Priority Programmes/Activities of the AICHR in 2018. The AICHR conducted the annual Youth Debate on Human Rights and various activities covering a wide range of thematic areas including the rights of women and children, the right to education, combating trafficking in persons, freedom of expression, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Most notably, the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025: Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a cross-sectoral initiative of the AICHR, SOMSWD and ACWC, was adopted by the ASEAN Leaders at the 33rd ASEAN Summit in November 2018.
The AICHR also discussed the remaining activities to be conducted in 2018, including the Regional Dialogue on the Mainstreaming on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the ASEAN Community (Accessibility through Universal Design), the Outcome Workshop of the Thematic Study on the Right to Peace, the AICHR-CACJ High Level ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue: The Rights of Accused Persons in Criminal Cases, and the AICHR SDG Forum: Access to Justice. The meeting also discussed finalisation of the Priority Programmes/ Activities of the AICHR 2019 and preparation for the Transition Workshop between AICHR Representatives 2016-2018 and AICHR Representatives 2019-2021.
Concluding the Meeting with a handover ceremony of the AICHR’s chairmanship, the Meeting expressed its appreciation to H.E. Ambassador Barry Desker for Singapore’s chairmanship, and welcomed Thailand’s chairmanship in 2019.