ASEAN Signs Charter: Human Rights Body Incorporated

Roundtable discussion on human rights

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation applauded the culmination of the efforts of the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (Working Group) with the recent signing of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Charter on 20 November 2007. The heads of state of ASEAN acknowledged the Working Group’s role when it incorporated a human rights body as an organ in the charter and recognized the Working Group as one of the “entities associated with ASEAN.”

Despite what for them is a breakthrough for human rights, the Working Group is not resting. More than ever, they continue to engage ASEAN as the officials left the human rights body’s terms of reference to the foreign ministers to elaborate.

With the elation of the recent signing of the charter still in the air, the Working Group, with the support of FNF, hosted a roundtable discussion with national human rights institutions, foreign officials and civil society in Makati from 17-18 December 2007. Delegates called for further dialogue between stakeholders to develop the mandates, functions and composition of the body in order to concretize it. They also urged member states to ratify the charter and to set a specific time frame for the completion of the terms of reference.

“We urge ASEAN member states to begin the discussions on the terms of reference of the human rights body even before the full ratification of the charter,” said Working Group Program Manger Ray Paolo “Arpee” Santiago. “We are prepared to assist ASEAN in this regard. In fact, as early as 2000, the Working Group had submitted to them a draft agreement for the establishment of the ASEAN human rights commission for their consideration.”