Joint Press Release of Interface Meeting between the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC)

The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) held its interface meeting with the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) on 10 July 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia and via videoconference. The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Wahyuningrum, Chair of AICHR and Representative of Indonesia to AICHR, and Mr. Ricky Purnama, S.I.K, M.H. on behalf of the Chair of SOMTC and Representative of Indonesia to SOMTC.

AICHR and SOMTC updated their respective work plans and discussed areas of priority for further cooperation in 2023 and beyond, which include the AICHR Five-Year Work Plan 2021-2025, the Implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action to Prevent and Counter the Rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism (PCRVE) 2018-2025, and the ASEAN Plan of Action Against Trafficking in Persons (TIP), Especially Women and Children (Bohol Work Plan) and its successor work plan.

AICHR and SOMTC acknowledged that TIP remains a major concern in ASEAN and the multi-faceted issues of TIP require a strong cross-pillar and cross-sectoral coordination and collaboration. AICHR and SOMTC welcomed the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Combating Trafficking in Persons Caused by the Abuse of Technology, and pledged to further strengthen cooperation and coordination against TIP caused by abuse of technology, as well as to set a minimum standard on protection of victim at the regional level to avoid re-victimisation, re-traumatisation, and continuing exploitation. Issues on economic crimes such as money laundering were also discussed.

AICHR and SOMTC exchanged views, experiences and good practices on the linkages between human rights, TIP and PCRVE in ASEAN and reaffirmed their commitment toward strengthening cross-pillar cross-sectoral coordination and collaboration on human rights.