 People behind the Working
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Who We Are
The Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism
(Working Group) is an informal coalition of individuals and
groups within the region who are working with government institutions
and NGOs in the field of human rights. Its 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.
 The
Working Group follows a step-by-step, constructive
and consultative approach involving governments, parliamentary
committees, academe and NGOs. In proposing a mechanism,
the Working Group is open to several options. The mechanism
may include a declaration of principles, a commission
and/or a court. The commission could have monitoring,
promotional and/or recommendatory functions, or it
may receive complaints from states and/or individuals.
It may cover all rights, or initially, be issue-specific,
like focusing only on the rights of women and children or
other vulnerable groups. The court, on the other hand, could
render binding decisions. Another option is having human rights
commissions in all ASEAN countries. Concerted programs among
them could constitute a mechanism.
Although various options have been identified, the Working
Group strongly recommends the establishment of a regional
human rights commission. In July 2000, a Draft Agreement
for the Establishment of the ASEAN Human Rights Commission
was submitted by the Working Group to ASEAN officials as a
working document to begin the process of consultation and
dialogue.
Since 1996, the Working Group has been meeting with ASEAN
ministers / senior officials, and with civil society groups
throughout the region. It has organized conferences on human
rights issues of common concern. At the state level, parallel
activities are being undertaken by national working groups.
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