Working Group Statement on the
Eminent Persons’ Group Recommendations for Inclusion
in the ASEAN Charter
MANILA, January 22, 2007:
The Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (Working
Group) commends the Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) for
their Recommendations for Inclusion in the ASEAN Charter.
We are encouraged by the EPG’s recognition of the
establishment of an ASEAN human rights mechanism as a worthy
idea that should be pursued. The foundations for the mechanism
are already in place. To date, all ASEAN countries have
ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention
on the Rights of the Child (CRC). ASEAN has also adopted
a number of declarations on women and children and, most
recently, on migrant workers. The challenge for ASEAN now
is to honor and implement these commitments in a timely
manner. Establishing an ASEAN human rights mechanism, or
at least establishing a commission for the promotion and
protection of the rights of women and children as provided
for by the ASEAN Vientiane Action Programme (VAP), will
be a good start.
Since 1996, the Working Group has been cooperating with
ASEAN and supporting its human rights endeavors. It can
be recalled that in 2005, the ASEAN asked for the Working
Group’s assistance in implementing the human rights
provisions of the VAP. Since then, the Working Group has
commenced studies and has convened workshops, roundtable
discussions, and meetings on the VAP. We look forward to
continued partnership with ASEAN as it takes the necessary
steps to promote and protect the fundamental rights of all
ASEAN peoples.
The Working Group welcomes the CEBU Declaration on the
Blueprint of the ASEAN Charter wherein the ASEAN Heads of
Government endorsed the EPG Recommendations without any
reservations.
The Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism’s
(Working Group) primary objective is the establishment of
an intergovernmental human rights mechanism in Southeast
Asia.
It is organized into national working groups in ASEAN states
which are composed of representatives of government institutions,
parliamentary human rights committees, the academe, and
NGOs.
