Roundtable on the Vientiane Action Programme
The Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism held
a roundtable discussion following up the Vientiane Action
Programme (VAP) of ASEAN 2004- 2010. It was held from 19
to 20 December 2005 in Bali, Indonesia and co- organized
with the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Indonesia.
Some highlights
The roundtable emphasized the continuing commitment to
establishing an ASEAN human rights mechanism, and implementing
and mobilizing resources for the VAP. It recommended sorting
out specific activities to implement the programme points,
the formation of a joint working committee of ASEAN and
the Working Group to initiate specific activities, and for
ASEAN to provide specific timeframes for implementation.
The roundtable also:
- Emphasized the need to conduct an in-depth study on the
status of human rights protection in each of the ASEAN states;
- Recommended taking stock of initiatives on human rights
education in ASEAN states and considering the possibility
of setting up a Regional Training Center on Human Rights;
- Recognized the need to take stock of the judicial systems
and the national legal frameworks and policies of ASEAN
states pertaining to the promotion and protection of the
rights of women, children and migrant workers -- noting
the importance of understanding how these relate to relevant
international instruments and policies;
- Considered the need to explore the feasibility and wisdom
of proposing to ASEAN separate commissions for women and
children;
- Recognized the need to speed up and consolidate networking
activities among existing national human rights institutions
and other specialized human rights agencies-- towards strengthening
their role on human rights in the region, especially on
emerging critical issues of common concern; and,
Referring to the outcomes of the 11th ASEAN Summit held
in December 2005, the roundtable also welcomed the Declaration
on the Establishment of the ASEAN Charter, and recognized
the need to engage the members of the Eminent Persons Group
for an ASEAN Charter-- including members of any drafting
team that will be formed-- to ensure that human rights concerns
are included in the Charter.
The roundtable was attended by representatives from governments,
national human rights institutions, and the national working
groups of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, and a representative
from the ASEAN Secretariat.
Observers came from the United Nations Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights, and funding organizations
Southeast Asia Regional Cooperation in Human Development
(SEARCH) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF).
Click here
for more highlights and full summary of the roundtable proceedings.
Link:
Vientiane Action Programme
