Press Release of the Second Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration

Press Release of the Second Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration

ASEAN Secretariat, 17 – 19 February 2012

The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened the Second Meeting of AICHR on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) from 17 – 19 February 2012 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Chet Chealy, Member of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee, the Alternate Representative of Cambodia to AICHR.

The Meeting discussed and agreed on the structure and the elements of the AHRD. The Meeting also agreed on the framework for discussion of the draft AHRD. The framework sets out the common understanding on the nature of the AHRD, the drafting modalities and the timeline, in line with the directions from the ASEAN Foreign Ministers at their AMM Retreat in Siem Reap, Cambodia in January 2012. The AHRD is to be a political document that reflects the aspirations and commitments of ASEAN to the promotion and protection of human rights.

The Meeting has completed deliberations on the Preamble of the AHRD, and is now deliberating on the General Principles for the AHRD.

The AICHR has received inputs from civil society groups on the AHRD. AICHR plans to hold regional consultations on the AHRD in the coming months to encourage more inputs.

The Meeting expressed appreciation to the Chair and the ASEAN Secretariat for the hospitality and excellent arrangements for the Meeting.

The next Meeting of AICHR will be held on 9 – 13 March 2012 at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia which will be the regular meeting of AICHR and the meeting will continue its deliberations on the AHRD.