1st Interface Meeting between the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and New Zealand

As part of the Special Meeting 2/2025 of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), the inaugural Interface Meeting between AICHR and New Zealand was held on 9 July 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The AICHR was led by its Chair, Edmund Bon Tai Soon, and the New Zealand delegation was led by Ambassador Joanna Anderson, New Zealand’s Ambassador to ASEAN, and included officials from the Mission of New Zealand to ASEAN and New Zealand Human Rights Commission (Disability Rights Commissioner, Prudence Walker, and Senior Human Rights Advisor, Frances Anderson). The meeting was also attended by Representatives and Alternate Representatives of the AICHR, including Timor-Leste as Observer, and officials from the ASEAN Secretariat.

At the meeting, AICHR, the New Zealand Government, and the New Zealand Human Rights Commission exchanged information on their respective human rights priorities, initiatives, cooperation frameworks, and recent developments. Parties discussed potential areas of collaboration, particularly in capacity building, technical assistance, and knowledge-sharing on human rights thematic areas such as the rights of persons with disabilities, gender equality, rights of people in vulnerable situations, online safety, artificial intelligence, human rights at sea, business and human rights, and effective access to remedies, among others.

Looking ahead, AICHR and New Zealand reaffirmed their shared commitment to fostering cooperation and expressed interest in continuing constructive dialogue on human rights and other areas of mutual interest, in accordance with ASEAN principles and Member States’ respective priorities.

The meeting concluded with appreciation extended to Malaysia and the ASEAN Secretariat for the meeting arrangements.