Working Group emphasizes people’s participation in a meeting with the ASEAN Senior Officials

“We believe that the main challenge facing ASEAN now is how to develop from an inter-executive association into an inter-peoples organization,” emphasized Mr. Wigberto E. Tañada, Chairperson of the Philippine Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, during the Meeting of the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (Working Group) with the ASEAN Senior Officials on the occasion of the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Phuket, Thailand.

Speaking on behalf of the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, Mr. Tañada cited the completion of the Terms of Reference (ToR) for an ASEAN human rights body, its submission to the Foreign Ministers for approval and adoption, and the imminent creation of an ASEAN human rights body (AHRB) as hallmarks in ASEAN’s move towards becoming people-oriented. He further pointed out that as a rules-based organization; ASEAN has increasingly paid attention to human rights which is very noteworthy.

Mr. Tañada also identified some of the Working Group’s recommendations and salient points for the consideration of the Senior Officials. These include:

• The AHRB should not be perceived as the only venue which deals with human rights concerns. However, since the AHRB is the primary organ dealing with human rights, the body should have a stronger mandate which would include the balance between the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
• A transparent and participatory selection process should be adopted for all ASEAN member-states.
• A discretionary review of the ToR when adjustments are useful, even before the required review after 5 years should be observed.
• The evolutionary approach, envisioned by the Working Group, should be within the context of continually enhancing the existing framework and adding value to the whole.

Mr. Tañada also took the opportunity to brief the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Working Group’s activities since their meeting in Singapore last year. He reported that the Working Group met with the High Level Panel on an ASEAN human rights body (HLP) in formal consultations in Manila and Kuala Lumpur where it presented its recommendations for a credible and effective body. It also organized an optional program in Strasbourg, France (Europe’s Human Rights capital) back to back with the HLP’s 11th meeting in Geneva in April 2009, where members of the HLP exchanged views and information on other human rights systems in other regions.

Aside from that and recalling its commitment to assist in implementing the human rights provisions of the Vientiane Action Programme, the Working Group has continued to work with National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), and on other parallel processes involving the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) and the ASEAN Instrument on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW). Particularly, the Working Group assists the Cambodian government in setting up its national human rights institution. The Working Group has also participated in the undertakings of the ACWC and ACMW through presentations of research, reports and knowledge-sharing,.

The ASEAN Senior Officials expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the efforts and comprehensive work of the Working Group. Vietnam, as the incoming chair of ASEAN, said that its contributions are good indicators of a good collaborative work for next year. The representative from Thailand also noted the involvements of the Working Group in promoting the creation of a human rights mechanism in the region. He was also very hopeful that a credible body will soon be established. Similarly, Singapore’s representative congratulated the Working Group and encouraged them to continue engaging with the AHRB and other human rights bodies, especially in capacity-building, awareness raising campaigns and networking. He also reminded the Working Group that the AHRB is not the only venue asserting human rights and that other platforms to promote and protect human rights should be taken into consideration.

The Working Group annually meets with the ASEAN Senior Officials during the AMM and discusses human rights issues in the region. For this year’s meeting, The Working Group was composed of representatives from the Cambodian, Indonesian, Philippine, Singaporean and Thai Working Groups.