Cambodia vows to finalize ASEAN human rights declaration this year

Cambodia aims to finalize the drafting of an ASEAN Human Rights Declaration this year as it chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Cambodian Human Rights Committee chairman Om Yin Tieng said.

“This is a big job and needs a lot of discussions. However, we are confident that we can finalize it by this year,” said Om Yin Tieng, who is also a senior minister and chair of the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights in 2012 […]

Ensure Human Rights, People’s Participation and Economic Justice in Democratization

NGO Press Release in conjunction with the 4th Bali Democracy Forum

Democracy in Asia will remain hollow if human rights, people’s participation and economic justice are not ensured in the process, warned a group of democracy and human rights advocates in the region who gathered in Bali for a civil society conference on democracy prior to the opening of the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) IV on December 8-9 […]

Final Statement of the Regional Consultation on Democratisation and People’s Participation in Asia

We, the representatives from civil society organisations of 16 Asian countries, gather here on 6 and 7 December 2011 in conjunction with the 4th Bali Democracy Forum to critically assess the situation and highlight challenges to democratization and human rights in Asia […]

Statement by the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission

The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission whole-heartedly welcomes the decision by the Heads of State or Government of the Member States of ASEAN that the Republic of the Union of Myanmar […]

Statement on ASEAN’s Decision to Grant Burma the Chair in 2014

We call for ASEAN to keep its options open on reversing its decision on Burma’s chairing the regional bloc if the military-led government back-slides on promises concerning human rights and democracy.

The decision made last week to grant Burma the 2014 chair is premature as the authorities have failed to fulfil key promises of reform. The decision might even embolden them to continue committing human rights abuses with total impunity […]

In a Premature Nod to Burma, ASEAN Misses a Chance to Drive Real Change

Last weekend, the Arab League voted to suspend Syria from its meetings and impose sanctions on the Damascus regime. The vote came after Syria ignored the regional institution’s calls for the release of prisoners, an immediate end to killings and violence and talks with opposition forces.

While the Arab League took such a strong decision, another regional group, ASEAN, has shied away from its responsibility to protect civilians and promote peace, security and justice in one of its member states […]

It is Too Early to Support Burma as ASEAN Chair in 2014: Significant and Substantial Change has not been Evidenced

The decision of ASEAN Leader to consensually support Burma to become ASEAN Chair in 2014 on the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (17th November 2011) was in a hurry and without considering factual and substantial reality which occurred in Burma. Such decision could […]

ASEAN Rewards Burma for Human Rights Abuses

ASEAN has missed an opportunity to push for improvements for human rights in Burma, according to Burma activists in Australia. ASEAN leaders attending a meeting in Indonesia agreed to allow Burma to chair the regional bloc in 2014 […]

ASEAN gambles on Myanmar’s regional leadership

Southeast Asian nations endorsed Myanmar on Thursday for the chairmanship of its regional grouping in 2014, gambling that the isolated country can stick to reforms begun this year that could lead it out of half a century of isolation.

But President Barack Obama cautioned that Myanmar, also known as Burma, must still demonstrate improvements in human rights […]

ASEAN: Set Benchmarks for Burma on Rights

Press Government to Free Political Prisoners, End Impunity for War Crimes

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should set clear human rights benchmarks for Burma as a condition for its chairmanship of the regional grouping in 2014, Human Rights Watch said today […]