July 29 - August 01, 2007

Creation of Human Rights Body Included in Draft of ASEAN Charter

From left to right: Working Group Program Officer Maita Chan-Gonzaga, Indonesian Working Group Member Seto Harianto and Thai Working Group Chairperson Sriprapha Petcharamesree, Ph.D.

Fourteen years ago, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) first discussed the establishment of an appropriate mechanism on human rights protection in the region. Finally, this might now become a reality with the conclusion of the 40th Ministerial Meeting in Manila from 29 July – 1 August 2007. All countries reached a consensus on including a provision for the creation of a human rights body in the ASEAN Charter. The ministers instructed the High Level Task Force (HLTF), responsible for drafting the charter, to add this provision. The HLTF will submit the final draft for approval and adoption in the next ASEAN summit in Singapore in November 2007.

Prior to the ministerial meeting, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) hosted the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (Working Group)’s consultative meeting with the senior officials on 29 July 2007. The Working Group pushed for a human rights commission to be included in the charter.

“We are very happy that the foreign ministers categorically decided to include the creation of an ASEAN human rights body in the charter,” said Working Group Program Manager Ray Paolo “Arpee” Santiago. “This is a breakthrough because this would definitely lead to the promotion and protection of human rights in the region. It shows ASEAN’s openness on human rights issues.”

“This is really excellent news. A long process of discussion and deliberation seems poised to bear fruit,” said FNF Resident Representative Siegfried Herzog. “It signals a willingness of ASEAN nations to base their co-operation more firmly on the universal values enshrined in the United Nations’ declaration of human rights.”