Press Release: The AICHR Training of Trainers on ASEAN Human Rights Mechanisms for ASEAN Member States Law Enforcement Officers
27 – 30 November 2014, Bali, Indonesia
Led by the Indonesian Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), Mr. Rafendi Djamin, the AICHR held a four-day Training of Trainers on ASEAN Human Rights Mechanisms for ASEAN Member States Law Enforcement Officers from 27-30 November 2014 at Pullman Hotel in Bali, Indonesia. The training, which was opened by H.E. Ambassador Kyaw Tint Swe as Chair of the AICHR, was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia and Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (READI) Facility.
The AICHR Training of Trainers was especially designed for and aimed at building the capacity of the police, immigration officers, judges and prosecutors from ASEAN Member States on ASEAN human rights mechanisms. This is in line with the the TOR of the AICHR which mandates the AICHR to promote capacity building for the effective implementation of international human rights treaty obligations undertaken by ASEAN Member States (Article 4.4). Participants included law enforcement officers from ASEAN Members States from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and the ASEAN secretariat. The trainers and resource persons are some Representatives to AICHR and ACWC as well as other human rights experts from the region.
During the training, the participants learnt and discussed about, among other things, the Concepts and Principles of Human Rights; ASEAN and its Human Rights Mechanisms which cover the AICHR, ASEAN Commission on Women and Children (ACWC) and ASEAN Commission on Migrant Workers (ACMW); as well as on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD). The participants were also equipped with knowledge on the Human Rights of Specific Groups and Related ASEAN Instruments, the Major Debates of Human Rights and Regional Human Rights Regimes, and the Role of National Human Rights Institutions. In addition, the participants were taught the skills and techniques of delivering human rights trainings.
On the second day of the training, the participants visited the Indonesian Correctional Facility in Karangasem Bali which was welcomed by Mr. Handoyo Sudrajat, Director General of Corrections and Mr. I Gusti Kompyang Adnyana, Head of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regional Office. The participants were given a presentation regarding the policy and regulations of the correctional facility and were also given the opportunity to observe first hand the protection of adult and juvenile detainees in practice in Bali, Indonesia. The participants also visited the Center for Guidance, Counselling, Probation and Parole where the participants were given an explanation about the concept of restorative justice and diversion which greatly reduced the number of detainees.
It is expected that the Training will result in human rights trainers from ASEAN law enforcement agencies so that after the completion of the training they would be able to conduct and deliver similar training in their respective countries.