Open Letter to ASEAN Heads of State

We write as Members of Parliament representing several ASEAN nations to express our grave concern about the plight of Rohingya Muslims, the high risk of atrocities in Myanmar, and the dangers these crises represent, not only for Myanmar, but for the entire ASEAN region […]

The Rohingya Crisis and the Risk of Atrocities in Myanmar: An ASEAN Challenge and Call to Action

Executive Summary

The longstanding persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar has led to the highest outflow of asylum seekers by sea since the U.S. war in Vietnam. Human rights violations against Rohingya have resulted in a regional human trafficking epidemic, and there have been further abuses against Rohingya upon their arrival in other Southeast Asian countries […]

The Appointment of New Representatives of Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam and the Re-appointment of Representatives to the AICHR

Pursuant to Article 5.2 of the Term of Reference (TOR) of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) – which states that “Each Member State shall appoint a Representative to the AICHR who shall be accountable to the appointing […]

Myanmar Must End Its Policy of Segregation in Rakhine State: ASEAN’s Inability to Act Points to Institutional Failures

The Myanmar government’s policy of segregating Muslim and Buddhist communities in Rakhine State is compounding a humanitarian crisis there, while ASEAN’s failure to positively influence the situation points to continued institutional failures in the regional grouping, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) said today […]

HRWG Calls NHRI to Make an Investigative Report on Rohingya Issue

Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) is disturbed with the human rights violations against Rohingya in Rakhine State, West Myanmar. Governments in ASEAN cannot stay idle on the situation and take the issue as a regional concern […]

HRWG Calls for AICHR to Adopt Human Rights on the Internet

Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) calls for ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) to adopt the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the internet access in ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD). HRWG has sent the submission to H.E. Om Yentieng, Chairperson of AICHR on July 27, 2012 […]

ASEAN: Ensure Declaration Meets Rights Standards

Genuine Consultation Needed with Civil Society Groups

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should make a public commitment to ensure that the forthcoming ASEAN Human Rights Declaration will fully comply with international human rights standards. The foreign ministers are scheduled to meet on July 8, 2012, with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights in Phnom Penh and receive a draft declaration for their consideration […]

Letter to the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting from International NGOs on the Draft ASEAN Human Rights Declaration

The International Commission of Jurists, International Federation for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Dignity International, and Article 19, write to you today to express our grave concerns regarding the process of drafting the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD). We understand that the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) will be transmitting to you a draft of the Declaration during your meeting with them on 8 July 2012 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia […]

Open Letter to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration

We, the undersigned organizations, welcome the important initiative of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in drafting the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) and the determination that the Declaration will not be lower than international human rights norms and standards, as expressed in AICHR’s first official consultation meeting with civil society organizations on 22 June 2012 in Kuala Lumpur. We understand that the draft prepared by the AICHR will be presented at the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) on 9 July 2010. As such, we appeal to you to take into considerations our following concerns in discussing the draft of the AHRD at the AMM […]

Civil Society Organisations Meet ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, Call for Universal Standards to be Upheld

Representatives of Civil society organisations (CSOs) have today met the AICHR for the first time for a consultation on the drafting of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. The organisations have welcomed the Consultation as a positive step in the right direction. They also welcome the constructive and friendly atmosphere in which the Consultation was held, and the openness of AICHR representatives to the comments and suggestions by CSO representatives.

We nevertheless regret that the Consultation was short, late, without a draft to comment on and with civil society only partially represented and some organizations rejected […]