Joint Press Release of the Meeting between AICHR and SOMRI
On 24 May 2023, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) held its 2nd Interface Meeting with the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting Responsible for Information (SOMRI), which was represented by a representative from SOMRI Vice Chair, Ms. Pham Phuong Chi, via videoconference. The 1st Interface Meeting between AICHR and SOMRI took place on 17 May 2017 at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.
AICHR and SOMRI shared updates on their mandates and functions, thematic priorities and initiatives pertaining to human rights, information and media under the AICHR’s Five-Year Work Plan 2021-2025, and the ASEAN Strategic Plan for Information and Media 2016-2025 respectively.
AICHR and SOMRI shared views and experiences in building an inclusive and informed digital ASEAN. They discussed areas of possible coordination and collaboration to counter disinformation and misinformation, and to protect young people and the rights of vulnerable groups, e.g., women, children and persons with disabilities, in the context of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) developments, among others.
AICHR and SOMRI reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cross-pillar, cross-sectoral coordination and collaboration. The two bodies also expressed commitment and collective efforts to enhancing alignment of work toward the promotion and protection of human rights in ASEAN.