Press Release – Special Meeting 3/2025 of AICHR
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened its Special Meeting 3/2025 from 23 to 26 September 2025 in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Edmund Bon Tai Soon, the Chair and Representative of Malaysia to AICHR, and attended by Representatives and Alternate Representatives of AICHR and officials of the ASEAN Secretariat. Timor-Leste participated as Observer.
The Meeting deliberated and agreed on the proposed ASEAN Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and the Right to Peace Towards Realising Inclusive and Sustainable Development for submission to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. This proposed declaration aims to advance the right to development and the right to enjoy peace through an ASEAN-led, ASEAN-owned, and whole-of-ASEAN approach, in accordance with the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) and the Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of the AHRD.
Reflecting on its work in alignment with the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future, AICHR reviewed the “ASEAN Secretariat Information Paper on the Work of AICHR 2010-2024” and discussed institutional strengthening and operational matters. These included ways to deepen thematic focus, cross-sectoral and cross-pillar cooperation and collaboration, strengthen stakeholder engagement, explore pathways to implement AICHR’s mandates, and to raise awareness on human rights. The Meeting further discussed AICHR’s relationship with civil society organisations with consultative relationship with AICHR, and communications to AICHR.
Further, AICHR discussed human rights thematic issues, including youth engagement, the right to education, the right of persons with disabilities, women and children, business and human rights, human rights and policing, the right to development, the right to enjoy peace, and inclusive and sustainable development, among others. AICHR also issued a press release on human rights, telecommunication network fraud and online scamming.
AICHR Representatives/Alternate Representatives of Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand exchanged views on recent human rights developments in the region and their respective countries, including new laws and national action plans, regulatory and policy frameworks, and initiatives related to human rights, such as on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), equality rights, online scamming, trafficking in persons, right to health, freedom of assembly and policing, death penalty, and human rights concerns in the conflict areas, including at the Cambodia-Thailand border.
The Meeting also discussed the preparations for the 7th ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue and commemorative activities scheduled to be held in November.
AICHR expressed its appreciation to Malaysia and the ASEAN Secretariat for the arrangements and support in convening the meeting.
More photos from the Special Meeting 3/2025 of AICHR can be accessed here.
