AICHR hosts first ASEAN Dialogue on Human Rights and Policing

BALI, 4 December 2024 – The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened the first ASEAN Dialogue on Human Rights and Policing in Bali on 2-3 December, marking a significant milestone in advancing human rights-based policing across the ASEAN region.

Representatives from ASEAN Member States’ National Police Forces, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), Commission of National Police, civil society organisations, academes, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Australian Federal Police, and ASEANAPOL attended the dialogue that aims to promote police integrity, professionalism, and adherence to international human rights standards.

The event is a vital step in operationalising the AICHR’s Five-Year Work Plan (2021–2025), focusing on strengthening governance through human rights-based approaches.

During the opening session, Wahyuningrum, Indonesia’s Representative to AICHR, emphasised that police officers, as frontline representatives of state authority, play a dual role: ensuring public safety and upholding human rights. She noted that policing and human rights are inseparable; therefore, dialogue is important for fostering trust, accountability, and professionalism in law enforcement across ASEAN.

Echoing this sentiment, Nanda Avalist of Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the importance of training and clear guidelines for law enforcement to exercise discretion responsibly, ensuring that human rights are protected even in complex scenarios. Likewise, police training is key to preventing torture and building public trust in law enforcement, said Tessa Nerini, from the Embassy of Switzerland.

The Australian Ambassador to ASEAN, Tiffany McDonald, highlighted Australia’s long-standing partnership with ASEAN and the importance of integrating human rights into law enforcement. She further said that policing as a public service emphasises safety, security, and human rights for all individuals without discrimination.

The event brought together over 80 participants, including in-person and virtual attendees, with representation from police forces across ASEAN Member States, the Australian Federal Police, and civil society organisations.

Key themes explored during the dialogue included addressing gender-based violence and ensuring ethical treatment of detainees, promoting community policing strategies to protect human rights defenders and uphold freedoms, and enhancing transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices.

As the dialogue progressed, participants were encouraged to share best practices, exchange perspectives, and develop innovative solutions to common challenges. ASEAN is forging a path toward a more humane, professional, and accountable policing system. Participating countries reaffirmed their commitment to aligning policing practices with the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) and international standards such as the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials.

The two-day dialogue culminated in the development of a roadmap for collaborative strategies to enhance human rights-based policing in ASEAN, including strengthening cooperation with NHRIs and civil society, as follows:

• Reviewing and improving the existing code of conduct of the national police of ASEAN member states.
• Increasing women’s representation in the police forces by improving recruitment, education, and employment as an affirmative action.
• Ensuring active and meaningful participation of CSOs.
• Developing ASEAN Guiding Principles on Human Rights-based Policing.
• Including human rights in the police academy curriculum.

AICHR expressed gratitude to its partners, including the Australian Human Rights Commission, Embassy of Switzerland, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, for their support in making the event a success.