Press Statement by Dr. Sriprapha Petcharamesree, Chair of the AICHR, on the Introductory Meeting of the AICHR

“Representatives of ASEAN Member States to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened an informal introductory meeting on 24 October 2009 in Hua Hin, Thailand, after its inauguration by ASEAN Leaders a day earlier. The list of Representatives to the AICHR is attached.

During the meeting, we had a discussion with the High Level Panel on the ASEAN Human Rights Body (HLP), the drafters of the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the AICHR, on issues relevant to the implementation of the TOR with a view to ensuring that the AICHR will be able to function in an effective and evolutionary manner as envisaged by ASEAN Leaders.

We also had a preliminary discussion on our procedures of work and schedule of meetings this year and in 2010. We agreed to convene an informal meeting in mid-December this year in Bangkok to discuss our workplan and activities.

For the next year, apart from the two regular meetings as provided for in the TOR, we agreed to convene an additional meeting in the light of the substantial amount of work that lies ahead of us. In this connection, we appreciate the offer of Malaysia to host an additional meeting in the later half of 2010.

Our meeting was conducted in the traditional ASEAN spirit of cordiality and solidarity.”