AICHR GATHERS IN JAKARTA TO BOOST REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) will convene its 41st Meeting at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta from May 12 to May 16, chaired by Datuk Edmund Bon Tai Soon, Malaysia’s Representative to AICHR and the Commission’s Chair for 2025, according to Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry.

The ministry, widely known as Wisma Putra, said Malaysia’s leadership of this meeting underscores its commitment to advancing human rights promotion and protection through regional dialogue and the exploration of new avenues for collaboration.

“The meeting will strengthen ASEAN-wide cooperation on human rights, bringing the region closer to the goals enshrined in the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration 2012 and ASEAN’s community vision,” said Wisma Putra in a statement on Monday.

According to Wisma Putra, the meeting will bring together 10 AICHR Representatives/Alternate Representatives, Timor-Leste’s Representative (as Observer), and officials from the ASEAN Secretariat.

“The meeting will discuss recent human rights developments in ASEAN and the proposed ASEAN Declarations on the Rights to Development, Peace, and a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment,” it said.

It said the meeting will also deliberate on the AICHR Five-Year Work Plan (FYWP) for 2026 to 2030 and its Priority Programmes for the next year.

In preparation for the 15th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) interface with AICHR scheduled for July 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, AICHR will also finalise its 2025 Annual Report to brief the AMM on its progress, challenges and future direction.

Further, AICHR will hold meetings with the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR); The Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (WGAHRM); representatives of Child Rights Coalition Asia, including children and ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC); ASEAN University Network–Human Rights Education (AUN-HRE); and dialogue partners – Australia, Norway, Japan, the European Union, Switzerland, and the Republic of Korea – the statement said. 

-- BERNAMA