Press Release – 43rd Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights 24-27 February 2026, Manila, Philippines
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened its 43rd Meeting from 19 to 22 May 2026 at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Indonesia. The Meeting was preceded by the AICHR Assistants’ Meeting held on 18 May 2026. The Meeting was chaired by Mr. Bolivar L. Bao, Alternate Representative of the Philippines to AICHR, and attended by AICHR Representatives and Alternate Representatives, AICHR Assistants, and officials from the ASEAN Secretariat.
The Meeting deliberated on the follow-up activities and actions towards the realisation of 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.
The Meeting further deliberated on priority programmes and activities of AICHR. Thematic human rights issues addressed include human rights cities, countering trafficking in persons, online harms, protection of women and children, protection of groups in vulnerable situations, and human rights at sea, among others. The Meeting also discussed human rights matters of interest, including the right to safe drinking water and sanitation; rights of accused persons in criminal cases; harm reduction, health policies and human rights; gender-based violence and CEDAW; poverty eradication and the right to an adequate standard of living; human rights, child immigration detention and implementing alternatives to detention; and consular assistance for victims of trafficking and forced criminality.
AICHR Representatives/Alternate Representatives exchanged views and shared updates on recent developments relating to the promotion and protection of human rights in their respective countries and across the region, including developments in policies, legislation, institutional frameworks, and national initiatives addressing contemporary and emerging human rights challenges.
The Meeting discussed institutional matters, including AICHR’s work processes and initiatives to enhance stakeholder engagement and public awareness of AICHR’s work and activities, such as the development of a booklet on civil society organisations (CSOs) accredited with consultative status with AICHR, and the publication of a bulletin on human rights developments in ASEAN.
The Meeting further discussed measures for cross-pillar, cross-sectoral collaboration with relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and Entities and considered the applications of CSOs for consultative relationship status with AICHR.
