ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) was inaugurated in October 2009 as a consultative body of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The human rights commission exists to promote and protect human rights, and regional co-operation on human rights, in the member states (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam).[1]
Human rights are referenced in the ASEAN Charter (Articles 1.7, 2.2.i and 14) and other key ASEAN documents. The Commission operates through consultation and consensus, meeting at least twice per year. Its small staff is currently engaged in conducting thematic studies and preparing capacity building activities.[1]
The AICHR is directed by a body of Representatives, one per member state, each nominated by and answerable to their government and serving a three-year term, renewable once. The Commission has 14 mandates, mainly around the promotion and protection of human rights, capacity building, advice and technical assistance, information gathering and engagement with national, regional and international bodies.[1][2] One of its mandates was "to develop an ASEAN Human Rights Declaration", but when this was adopted, in November 2012,[3] it came under criticism from human rights groups for including wording that suggested that access to human rights was contingent on "the performance of corresponding duties as every person has responsibilities to all other individuals, the community and the society where one lives".[4]
Although the Commission was described as "toothless" by commentators including the Wall Street Journal,[5] NGOs in the region presented cases of alleged violations to it at its inaugural meeting in Jakarta.[6]
Member AICHR
2009-2012
| Name | Country |
|---|---|
| Om Yenting |  Cambodia |
| Rafendi Djamin |  Indonesia |
| Bounkuet Sangsomsak |  Laos |
| Awang Abdul Hamid Bakal |  Malaysia |
| Kyaw Tint Swe |  Myanmar |
| Rosario G. Manalo |  Philippines |
| Richard Magnus |  Singapore |
| Sriprapha Petcharamesree |  Thailand |
| Do Ngoc Son |  Vietnam |
2012-2015
| Name | Country |
|---|---|
| Shofry Abdul Ghafor |  Brunei |
| Om Yenting | Cambodia |
| Rachmat Budiman | Indonesia |
| Bounkuet Sangsomsak | Laos |
| Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak | Malaysia |
| U Myat Ko | Myanmar |
| Rosario G. Manalo | Philippines |
| Bilahari Kausikan | Singapore |
| Sihasak Phuangketkoew | Thailand |
| Pham Quang Vinh | Vietnam |
Literature
- Tan, Hsien-Li (2011), The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights: Institutionalising human rights in Southeast Asia, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-1-107-00449-8
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 ASEAN Secretariat (2012) AICHR: What you need to know, ISBN 978-602-7643-18-5
- ↑ Terms of Reference of AICHR
- ↑ ASEAN Human Rights Declaration
- ↑ United Nations comment on Declaration
- ↑ Post (2009-07-22). "Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights has little hope - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
- ↑ "NGOs to report rights abuse cases to AICHR". The Jakarta Post. 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
External links
- Website of the AICHR
- Development of the ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism Directorate-General for External Policies of the European Parliament 2012