ASEAN Four Hailed as an Inspiration to the Region

International parliamentarians praised the national human rights institutions (NHRIs) of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines last October 15-17, 2007 for partnering with each other on a regional level. The grouping, which calls itself the "ASEAN Four", presented their Declaration of Cooperation during the Workshop on the Establishment of National Human Rights Institutions which was held in Manila, the Philippines. Participants, comprised of members of NHRIs and human rights-related government agencies from Asia-Pacific countries, likewise lauded a recent outcome of their collaboration- a Position Paper that urges for the mention of a regional human rights mechanism or organ in the ASEAN Charter.

"The important role that NHRIs play at the international level is undeniable," said United Nations (U.N.) High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, "I sincerely congratulate the NHRIs of the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. These initiatives represent not only a great achievement for NHRIs but also an important contribution in the field of human rights in the ASEAN region".

The National Human Rights Commission of Indonesia (KOMNAS HAM), Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) and the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (Khamakarn Sit) presented their respective best practices on human rights promotion and protection. As ASEAN Four, they talked about their areas of cooperation, which mainly covers terrorism and human rights, migrants and migrant workers, trafficking, economic, social and cultural rights, and human rights education. The grouping is also set to meet during the first quarter of 2008 to address the human rights areas that are to be mentioned in the ASEAN Charter through joint activities.

Other participants also noted ASEAN Four’s success. Ms. Aruna Sharma, joint secretary of the National Human Rights Commission of India, said that ASEAN Four should serve as an inspiration to countries in the region without national human rights infrastructures. "ASEAN Four is a platform which addresses a country's (sovereign) decision to have an NHRI for itself and also its need to cooperate with other NHRIs," she highlighted. Currently, there are only 20 NHRIs in Asia, four of which are in ASEAN member-countries.

Cambodia is seen to be the next in the region to follow suit. Ms. Sudary Khoun, a member of the Cambodian National Assembly, revealed that a first draft of the law which will call for the establishment of a Cambodian NHRI had already been completed by an independent working committee. She promised her full support for the legislation, once this is formally presented to parliament.

Participants urged Cambodia and other countries in Asia without NHRIs to seek assistance and advice from United Nations Office of High Commissioner on Human Rights (U.N. - OHCHR), U.N. Country Teams, the Asia Pacific Forum on NHRIs, and ASEAN Four. "NHRIs are pillar elements of strong, effective national human rights protection systems and key to the realization of human rights at the country level," High Commissioner Arbour concluded, "this workshop...identified the numerous advantages of having an NHRI, and it is my wish that this will only be the beginning of a constructive and collaborative partnership between governments, the U.N., the Asia Pacific Forum, and NHRIs in the region aimed at the establishment of NHRIs in compliance with the Paris Principles."

The workshop was organized by the U.N.- OHCHR, held in cooperation with the CHRP, and was supported by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. Its main objective was to provide participants, mainly parliamentarians from Asian countries with NHRIs, with a clear picture of how NHRIs should function and their effectiveness in the promotion and protection of human rights.