Press Release – Special Meeting 1/2025 of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights

The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened its Special Meeting 1/2025 from 8 to 10 April 2025 in Penang, Malaysia. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Edmund Bon Tai Soon, Representative of Malaysia to AICHR, and attended by AICHR Representatives and Alternate Representatives, including Timor-Leste as Observer, and officials of the ASEAN Secretariat.

At this meeting, AICHR hosted an inaugural Interface Consultation with the ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment (ASOEN) and had a frank and constructive exchange of views on the proposed ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment. Following that, AICHR agreed on the text of the proposed Declaration.

AICHR continued its deliberation on the development of the AICHR Five-Year Work Plan (FYWP) 2026-2030. As part of this process, findings from the final review of the AICHR FYWP 2021-2025 were presented. Discussions also covered preparations for the 2026 Priority Programmes/Activities of AICHR and its 2025 Annual Report, both to be submitted to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in July 2025.

AICHR further deliberated and agreed on the text of the proposed ASEAN Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and Peace Towards Realising Inclusive and Sustainable Development.

AICHR discussed progress of the implementation of its priority programmes and activities, covering a range of thematic areas such as the rights of children and persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, youth engagement, mental health in the digital age, business and human rights, environmental sustainability, the right to development, the right to peace, trafficking in persons and people smuggling, among others.

AICHR also deliberated on operational and institutional matters, including communications received by AICHR. Measures to strengthen collaboration with ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and Entities across the three ASEAN Community pillars were discussed, including the identification of human rights thematic areas for follow-up work. Further, AICHR considered plans to undertake a self-assessment of its work and progress since its establishment in 2009.

AICHR Representatives and Alternate Representatives exchanged views on recent developments including the issues of online scamming, trafficking in persons, transnational crime, death penalty, gender equality, engagement with the United Nations and the Universal Periodic Review mechanism, and the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand on 28 March 2025. Representatives welcomed the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the Impact of the Earthquake in Myanmar on 28 March 2025 and the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the Outcome of the Special Emergency Meeting in the Aftermath of the Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand on 30 March 2025 respectively. AICHR also expressed its deepest sympathies and stands in solidarity with the peoples of Myanmar and Thailand affected by the earthquake.

AICHR joined its voice to the statements of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers, calling for rapid, safe and unimpeded access of life-saving humanitarian assistance and relief efforts in Myanmar. They encouraged all stakeholders in Myanmar to focus on humanitarian assistance and facilitate relief efforts, and to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need, in a timely and effective manner without disruption and discrimination. AICHR underscored the importance of upholding human rights during emergency responses, and for a safe and enabling environment for humanitarian aid to be distributed equitably, with special attention to vulnerable and marginalised groups.

On 10 April 2025, AICHR met with and had a frank and interactive exchange of views with Pusat KOMAS, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) with consultative status with AICHR.

AICHR expressed its appreciation to Malaysia and the ASEAN Secretariat for the excellent meeting arrangements.