AICHR holds validation workshop on a regional study on migration management and human rights
JAKARTA, 1 November 2021 – The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) organised the regional consultation to validate the AICHR Study on “Migration Management for the Most Vulnerable Groups within ASEAN” via video-conference.
The workshop gathered inputs and comments for the AICHR Study on Migration and Human Rights report from migration experts and representatives from universities, think tanks, and civil society organisations in ASEAN.
In her welcome remarks, Representative of Indonesia to AICHR, H.E. Wahyuningrum underscored that there has been regular and irregular movement of people between the ASEAN Member States. Migrant workers, particularly those who end up in an irregular migration process, are vulnerable to human rights abuses and in dire need of protection, she said.
She added that AICHR has the responsibility to ensure that the rights of migrant workers are protected as enshrined in the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, specifically Article 15 on the right of everyone to move within and across the borders, and Article 4 on the right of migrant workers.
The scope of AICHR’s study report covers labour migration management in ASEAN by examining state practices in promoting and protecting the human rights of migrant workers; cooperation mechanism and the role of various stakeholders; best practices and recommendations to protect the rights of migrant workers and improve labour migration management in ASEAN.
The study report will complement existing ASEAN initiatives on the rights of migrant workers, such as: ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers; ASEAN Declaration on the Rights of Children in the Context of Migration; and ASEAN Guidelines on Effective Return and Reintegration of Migrant Workers, among others.
The workshop is part of the AICHR Five-Year Work Plan 2021-2025 implementation. AICHR appreciates the support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia towards the realisation of the workshop.