Makati City, Philippines, 24 – 26 November 2013
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened a Special Meeting on 24 to 26 November 2013 in Makati City, Philippines. The Special Meeting was chaired by H.E. Pehin Dato Dr. Awang Hj. Ahmad bin Hj. Jumat, the Representative of Brunei Darussalam and the Chair of the AICHR. The AICHR Representatives expressed their deep condolences and sympathies to the victims of the Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Typhoon Yolanda, and their confidence that the people of the Philippines would overcome the tragedy through their resilience.
The focus of the Meeting was to finalise the consideration of pending AICHR concept papers. The concept papers finalised included the concept paper for the Workshop on Developing ASEAN legal instruments on human rights; the concept paper on the establishment of a dedicated or separate unit to support the work of the AICHR and the concept paper on the dissemination of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD). The Meeting also had a preliminary discussion on the draft Guidelines on the AICHR’s Relations with Civil Society Organisations and the AICHR Calendar for 2014.
On the final day of the Meeting, the AICHR met with the Representatives of the Bangkok Regional Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for a briefing on the outcome of joint activities between the AICHR and UNHCR organised in 2011 and 2012 respectively, and to discuss possible areas for future cooperation.
The Meeting took note that due to the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan and the relief efforts undertaken by the government agencies in the Philippines, especially the Department of Health, the AICHR Regional Workshop on the Promotion of Maternal Health and Reduction of Maternal Mortality scheduled for 29 – 30 November 2013 will be postponed to 2014.
The Meeting expressed their appreciation to the Representative of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines for the hospitality and excellent arrangements. The AICHR will convene its 13th Meeting on 16 to 18 December 2013 in Brunei Darussalam.