HLTF Consults with ASEAN National Human Rights Institutions and the Working Group

Working Group Co-Chair Marzuki Darusman joins a panel with NRHI heads . (L-R) Darusman, Commissioner Tunku Datuk Nazihah Mohd. Rus (SUHAKAM), Chairperson Purificacion C. Valera Quisumbing (CHR Philippines), Commissioner Khunying Ambhorn Meesook (NHRC Thailand), and Chairperson Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara (Komnas HAM).

(June 26, 2007/Bali) During their 7th Meeting, the the High Level Task Force (HLTF) which is drafting the ASEAN Charter consulted with representatives from the national human rights commissions of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, as well as the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (Working Group).

Since the ASEAN Foreign Ministers had directed the HLTF to draft an enabling provision in the ASEAN Charter on the establishment of an ASEAN Human Rights Commission subject to the latter’s terms of reference, the HLTF deemed it important to continue its consultations with relevant groups to help them discuss and draft the relevant provisions and the terms of reference. The dialogue was seen as very timely as the HLTF was already at the peak of its drafting.

The NHRIs submitted to the HLTF a position paper on the possible human rights aspects of the ASEAN Charter. Read the position paper of the NHRIs of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand on the human rights aspects of the ASEAN Charter. They also emphasized the universality of standards and norms of human rights as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights despite the diversity of cultures within the region.

Marzuki Darusman, Co-Chairperson of the Working Group, observed that an ASEAN Human Rights Commission should be an evolving process and could have a clear hierarchy of values firmly rooted on the promotion and protection of fundamental rights.

ASEAN Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong emphasized that ASEAN is committed to the “basic approach of getting results at a step-by-step, comfort-level approach.” He further added that ASEAN is fully committed to address substantive issues and pointed out progress towards that direction such as with the issues on migrant workers, women and children.

The national human rights institutions of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand were represented by Chairperson Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara, Commissioner Tunku Datuk Nazihah Tunju Mohd. Rus, Chairperson Purificacion C. Valera Quisumbing, and Commissioner Khunying Ambhorn Meesook, respectively.