Press Release – 41st Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights

The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened its 41^st Meeting from 12 to 16 May 2025 at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Meeting was chaired by Edmund Bon Tai Soon, Representative of Malaysia to AICHR, and attended by Representatives and Alternate Representatives of AICHR and officials of the ASEAN Secretariat. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.

The Meeting deliberated on progress of the implementation of AICHR’s priority programmes and activities, covering a wide range of thematic areas, such as mental health in the digital age, rights of children and persons with disabilities, business and human rights, human rights and the environment, human rights and policing, intersection between conflict and human rights, human rights at sea, anti-trafficking initiatives, and ASEAN Youth Debate, among others.

The Meeting agreed on the proposed ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment for submission to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM). The proposed ASEAN Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and Peace Towards Realising Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development was further discussed, incorporating inputs following AICHR’s consultation with relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies.

The Meeting discussed preparations for the Interface of AICHR Representatives with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers at the 58^th AMM, including the draft AICHR FYWP 2026-2030, the draft 2026 Priority Programmes/Activities of AICHR, Statement of the AICHR Chair to the 58^th AMM, and the Annual Report of AICHR 2025.

AICHR Representatives/Alternate Representatives of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand exchanged views on recent human rights developments, including human rights issues, such as transboundary impact of human rights, and new and updated national laws, regulations and initiatives.

AICHR held its 16^th annual interface meeting with the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) and had an engaging and constructive discussion focusing, among others, on strengthening cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights in ASEAN and enhancing inter-sectoral collaboration.

In strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration and stakeholder engagement, AICHR also held its 2^nd meeting with the ASEAN University Network on Human Rights Education (AUN-HRE) to discuss potential joint initiatives on human rights education. The 8^th meeting of AICHR with the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (WG-AHRM), an Entity Associated with ASEAN, focused on measures to strengthen the balanced discharge of AICHR’s mandates and institutional capacity. Notably, AICHR held its 2^nd meeting with the Child Rights Coalition Asia (CRC Asia), with the participation of representatives of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), and 24 children and youths. The meeting focused on issues related to children’s rights and included the sharing of recommendations by children and youths to address climate change, migration, violence against children, and online harm.

AICHR held its 8^th meetings with Australia and the European Union, its 4^th meetings with Japan and Switzerland, and its first meetings with Norway and the Republic of Korea. The meetings discussed potential areas of collaboration, including knowledge-sharing and capacity-building, and recent human rights developments and emerging threats to human rights. Parties reaffirmed the shared commitment to deepening cooperation and looked forward to a sustained and constructive dialogue on human rights.

This 41^st Meeting progressed and enhanced AICHR’s work by, among others, refining thematic focus areas, strengthening partnership and cross-pillar coordination, and engaging in strategic planning towards advancing human rights cooperation in the region.

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

Original post