We, the undersigned civil society organizations across ASEAN region and beyond, recognise the role of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) in shaping the future of the AICHR in the course of the review of its ToR.
To: The 47th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, Myanmar (8-10 August 2014)
Excellencies,
At the outset, pursuant to article 9.6 of the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), the ToR shall be reviewed five years after its entry into force.
We, the undersigned civil society organizations across ASEAN region and beyond, recognise the role of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) in shaping the future of the AICHR in the course of the review of its ToR.
We reiterate the spirit as prescribed in article 9.6 of the ToR of the AICHR that the review aims to further enhancing the protection and promotion of human rights within ASEAN.
We appreciate the initiative by the AICHR to hold two regional consultations in Jakarta and Bangkok, which allowed civil society organisations (CSOs) to submit and share their views on the performance of the AICHR and ways to enhance this human rights body in promoting and protecting human rights.
We, however, observe that all CSOs’ submissions have called for a substantial review of the ToR that could provide grounds for significant improvements in the ToR in the future which:
• will equip the AICHR with stronger protection mandates and support to address human rights situations in the region;
• will provide the AICHR with stronger secretariat support;
• will give more independency to the AICHR;
• will enhance AICHR’s relationship with, but not limited to, other ASEAN bodies – particularly the ACWC, the NHRIs, and civil society.
We note the call from CSOs for a participatory and transparent review process of the ToR at all stages at national regional levels.
We believe that the AICHR has collected all submissions and aspirations from CSOs to be considered in their internal assessment which will be submitted to the AMM at the 47th AMM.
In relation thereto, we call the AMM:
- To conduct the review process on the ToR of the AICHR through a transparent, accountable, and participatory process, which is opened to wider stakeholders at national and regional levels.
- To ensure a substantial review which would provide stronger mandates and support to the AICHR as will be stipulated in the future ToR.
- To invite broader contribution from human rights experts, NHRIs and CSOs with regard to their expertise and experience in the field of human rights, notably in the set-up of any task force for the review of the ToR.
Finally, we reiterate our commitment to further engage with the AICHR and other ASEAN bodies, including the three pillars of ASEAN – the political-security, the economic and the socio-cultural – so as to present all matters related to human rights to and ensure that AICHR will be developed into a comprehensive, effective and independent human rights body, particularly in the upcoming ASEAN Community in 2015. Thank you.