Workshop on enhancing cooperation between United
Nations and regional mechanism for the promotion and
protection of human rights
Presentation by
H.E. Kyaw Tint Swe
Chair of AICHR
“Taking Stock of developments in cooperation between United
Nations and regional human rights mechanisms”
ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human
Rights (AICHR)
- Established in October 2009
- The only regional human rights mechanisms in Asia
- Intergovernmental in nature
- A consultative body
- An overarching institution with overall responsibility for the
promotion and protection of human rights in ASEAN
Purposes
The purpose of AICHR includes :
1.1
To Promote and protect human rights
fundamental freedoms of the peoples of ASEAN;
and
1.5
To enhance regional cooperation with a view to
complementing national and international efforts on the
promotion and protection of human rights;
1.6
To uphold international human rights standards as
prescribed by the Universal Declaration of
Human
Rights, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of
Action, and the international human rights instruments to
which ASEAN Member States are parties.
Principles
AICHR is guided by its principles which include;
2.1 (d) adherence to the rule of law, good governance, the principles
for democracy and constitutional government;
(e) respect for fundamental freedoms, the promotion and
protection of human rights, and the promotion of social
justice;
(f) upholding the Charter of the United Nations and
international law, including international humanitarian law,
subscribed to by ASEAN Member States; and
(g) respect for different cultures, languages and religions of the
peoples of ASEAN, while emphasising their common values
in the spirit of unity in diversity.
2.4
Pursuance of a constructive and non-confrontational
approach and cooperation to enhance promotion and
protection of human rights; and
2.5
Adoption of an evolutionary approach that would
contribute to the development of human rights norms and
standards in ASEAN.
Mandate and Function of AICHR
1.
To develop strategies for the promotion and protection of human
rights and fundamental freedoms to complement the building of
the ASEAN Community;
2.
To develop an ASEAN Human Rights Declaration with a view
to establishing a framework for human rights cooperation
through various ASEAN Conventions and other instruments
dealing with human rights;
3.
To enhance public awareness of human rights among the
peoples of ASEAN through education, research and
dissemination of information.
4.
To promote capacity building for the effective
implementation of International Human Rights treaty
obligations undertaken by ASEAN Member States;
5.
To encourage ASEAN Member States to consider
acceding to and ratifying international human rights
instruments;
6.
To promote the full implementation
instruments related to human rights;
7.
To provide advisory services and technical assistance on
human rights matters to ASEAN Sectoral Bodies upon
request;
of
ASEAN
11. To develop common approaches and positions
rights matters of interest to ASEAN;
on human
12. To prepare studies on thematic issues of human rights in
ASEAN;
13. To summit an annual report on its activities, or other reports
if deemed necessary, to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers
Meeting; and
14. To perform any other task as maybe assigned to it by the
ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting
Intergovernmental human rights instruments to which
all ASEAN Members are party to
-
CEDAW
-
CRC
-
Disability Convention near by all members
ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD)
Tasked by its TOR to develop an ASEAN Human Rights
Delcartion
-
- Adopted by ASEAN Leaders in November 2012
- The first stand setting, political document to codify the
basic human rights and fundamental functions that ASEAN
member states must respect, promote and
protect
- The first regional human rights instrument in the Asia
Pacific region
AHRD
- Emulates UDHR and several international human rights
instruments including Vienna Declaration and Programme
of action
- Uniquely ASEAN
- Supplements these global standards
- Value added includes
- Right to development
- Right to peace
- Right to a safe, clean and sustainable environment
Raising Awareness and Discrimination of AHRD
- Translated into main languages of ASEAN Member States
- Holding joint event with other ASEAN Bodies
(e.g. With CPR)
- Youth competition on Arts and Human Rights
Funding and other resources for external parties
-Solely for
(a) human rights promotion
(b) capacity building
(c) education
-Observes
(a) ASEAN Centrality
(b) ASEAN ownership in designing and
implementing cooperation activities
Activities conducted in 2013
(i) A five-day Advanced Programme on Human Rights : Training of the
Trainers in Bangkok, Thailand
(ii) The Regional Workshop on the Human Rights – Based approach to
Combat Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children in
Makati City, the Philippines
(iii) a two-day Regional Workshop on Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) Post 2015 and Human Rights in Jakarta, Indonesia
(iv) The Regional Workshop on the Promotion of Maternal Health and
Reduction of Maternal Mortality: Meeting the United Nations
Millennium Development Goal 5 in the Context of ASEAN
Community in Manila, the Philippines
(v) An Outcome Workshop on the Thematic Study on Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) and Human Rights in Singapore
Activities that are implemented in 2014
(i) Advanced Programme on Human Rights : Training of the
Trainers
(ii) First and Second Coordination Workshop and Thematic
Study on the Right to Peace
(iii) Consultation with stakeholders on the review of the TOR of
AICHR in 2014
(iv) Workshop with ASEAN Sectoral Bodies concerned on
comparative human rights law studies
(v) Regional Workshop on the reporting obligations experience
and best practices
(vi) Workshop to share best practices on implementation of
the treaties
(vii) Workshop with ASEAN Sectoral Bodies concerned on
the development of other ASEAN legal instruments on
human rights
(viii) Workshop on Human Rights, Environment and Climate
Change ( Responding to MDG Goal 07)
AICHR’s Cooperation with United Nations Agencies sine 2012
I. Regional Workshop of National Registrars on Best Practices in Birth
Registration on 7 December 2012 (UNHCR)
II. Regional Workshop and Consultation on Business and Human Rights
in ASEAN on 11-12 December 2012 (UN Women)
III. Intensive Learning Workshop on Women’s Human Rights (the
Workshop) for the Regional and National Secretariats to ASEAN
Human Rights’ Bodies on 18-21 March 2013 (UN Women)
IV. Major debates of human rights on International Standards on Process
of Justice on 16-20 November (OHCHR)
V. The second consultation on the Review of the AICHR’s TOR
(UN Women)
Thank You
.