Joint Press release – 6th Interface Meeting between the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) with a Consultative Relationship with AICHR 9 July 2025, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
As part of the Special Meeting 2/2025 of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), the 6th Interface Meeting between AICHR and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) with a Consultative Relationship with AICHR was held on 9 July 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
This Interface Meeting was presided over by H.E. Edmund Bon Tai Soon, the Chair and Representative of Malaysia to AICHR, and attended by AICHR Representatives and Alternate Representatives, including Timor-Leste as Observer, officials from the ASEAN Secretariat, and a delegation from the CSOs participating in person and online led by Cornelius Damar Hanung of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA).
The Interface served as an open platform for dialogue and constructive engagement on key human rights issues in the region. Discussions spanned a broad range of topics, including the right to development, right to peace and conflict prevention, business and human rights, grievances and access to remedies and justice, environmental and climate change concerns, the rights of women, children, and persons with disabilities, artificial intelligence, the AICHR communication mechanism on human rights complaints in the region, civic space and human rights developments in the region, among others.
The exchange allowed AICHR and the CSOs to share insights, challenges, and good practices in promoting and protecting human rights in ASEAN. Parties also explored ways to enhance cooperation and reaffirmed the importance of sustained and meaningful engagement between AICHR and the CSOs following similar meetings and interfaces in the Philippines (2017), Thailand (2018), and Indonesia (2019, 2023 and 2024).
In closing, AICHR expressed its appreciation to the CSO delegation for their active and valuable participation in the Interface. The meeting concluded with gratitude extended to Malaysia and the ASEAN Secretariat for their excellent arrangements and support.
