In this vein, we encourage the use of the AHRD in all policy and advocacy efforts because the Declaration must be mainstreamed as part of our daily lives.
18 NOVEMBER 2012
On this day, four years ago, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) adopted the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD). The Declaration affirms all the civil and political rights, and all the economic, social and cultural rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 (UDHR).
Consistent with the aim of being a rules-based, people-oriented and people-centred community, ASEAN Member States through the Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of the AHRD affirmed ASEAN’s commitment to the full implementation of the AHRD to advance the promotion and protection of human rights in the region in accordance with the UDHR.
The AHRD is a historic document. Collectively, it symbolised the merging of our diverse national histories into a pact to respect, promote and protect human rights in the region. The minimum standards of human rights in the AHRD are guaranteed, and are to be fulfilled in accordance with the international norms set out by, among others, the UDHR.
The AHRD is the central document that has set about a realignment between Member States to develop common approaches in dealing with human rights issues. As an aspirational instrument, it is part of a regional mechanism that enriches the human rights discourse. It does not aim to detract from the existing jurisprudence on the importance of, and quality, of human rights.
The Declaration is not exhaustive, and an incremental evolution by elaborating on the baseline of each right in the AHRD is required. AICHR’s work as the overarching human rights body of ASEAN is to – through its studies and programmes, and in consultation with other sectoral bodies and civil society organisation – assist in seeking out a shared interpretation of the rights in the AHRD. This can only be achieved if the ASEAN peoples agree that ASEAN’s common purpose is manifested in the vision to deepen the region’s integration process so that all may enjoy their rights, a higher quality of life and the accompanying benefits of being one family guided by the principles of the ASEAN Charter.
In this vein, we encourage the use of the AHRD in all policy and advocacy efforts because the Declaration must be mainstreamed as part of our daily lives. Further, we invite civil society organisations to apply for consultative status with the AICHR as part of AICHR’s constructive engagement with stakeholders to enhance the work of all rights advocates.
AICHR-MALAYSIA
PUTRAJAYA
18 NOVEMBER 2016
Source : www.kln.gov
Source : www.kalyanamitra.or.id
