Joint Press Release – 9th Interface Meeting between the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the European Union
The 9th Interface Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the European Union (EU) was convened on 22 May 2026 at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat.
The Meeting was chaired by the Acting AICHR Chair and Alternate Representative of the Philippines to AICHR, Bolivar L. Bao, with the EU Delegation led by Ambassador Sujiro Seam, the EU Ambassador to ASEAN. It was attended by the Representatives and Alternate Representatives of AICHR, officials from the EU Mission to ASEAN, and the ASEAN Secretariat.
Representatives of AICHR and the EU shared updates on human rights developments, ongoing cooperation, and initiatives since their 8th Interface Meeting in May 2025 and the 6th ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights in October 2025.
AICHR Representatives/Alternate Representatives shared updates on their work and initiatives on various human rights issues, including the right to development, right to peace, environment and human rights, digital rights, countering trafficking in persons and transnational crime, online harm and protection of women and children, sustainable development and rights of groups in vulnerable situations, and business and human rights. Following the adoption of two landmark ASEAN Declarations on human rights at the 47th ASEAN Summit, i.e., the ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment, and the ASEAN Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and the Right to Peace Towards Realising Inclusive and Sustainable Development, AICHR also highlighted its follow-up activities in support of the implementation of these Declarations.
The Meeting noted the collaborative work and partnership in strengthening the ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights (PDHR) mechanism, as well as joint activities complementary to the PDHR thematic discussions. The Meeting acknowledged the EU’s support through the Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (E-READI) and the Danish Institute for Human Rights to the convening of the PDHR, as well as the implementation of recent activities on business and human rights, environment and human rights, and human rights cities.
The Meeting discussed enhancing cooperation in implementing the Five-Year Work Plan of AICHR (2026-2030) and the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership (2023-2027). The Meeting welcomed the EU’s continued support for AICHR’s strong commitments and efforts on human rights under the EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Dialogue Facility (EASPDF) in 2026 and 2027.
The AICHR and the EU reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening collaboration and looked forward to future interface meetings as part of a sustained and constructive dialogue on human rights. Both sides also looked forward to preparations for the 7th ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights, to be held in 2027.
