The Sixth ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)
Press Release of the Sixth Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)
The Sixth ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Meeting was held from 28 June – 2 July 2011 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. This Meeting was the third meeting of AICHR in 2011 chaired by the Indonesian Representative, Chair of AICHR.
The Meeting discussed AICHR’s Annual Budget 2012, Five-Year Work Plan (2010-2015) with indicative budget, First Annual Report of AICHR to be submitted to AMM in July 2011 and planned various activities including training programs, researches and workshops.
In accordance with the Terms of Reference of AICHR, the AICHR is mandated to develop an ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. For this purpose, AICHR set up the Drafting Group to formulate the draft of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration under the general and specific directions of AICHR, which also had their inaugural meeting on the 1st of July.
During the course of the AICHR Meeting, AICHR met with its Drafting Group and gave guidance on the preparation of the basic draft of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. The Drafting Group is expected to finalize their work within 6 months from its first meeting. In the opening remarks of the meeting, the Chair of AICHR underscored the important role of the Drafting Group in the process of developing the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. The Drafting Group shall in particular take into account the values and principles in the ASEAN Charter, the Terms of Reference of AICHR as well as international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
AICHR also met and exchanged views with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism on their cooperation. These meetings reflect AICHR’s ongoing consultations and cooperation with international organizations and civil society on the promotion of human rights.
The Seventh ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights Meeting will be held on 27 November – 1 December 2011.