ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)

1. Workshop on enhancing cooperation between United Nations and regional mechanism for the promotion and protection of human rights Presentation by H.E. Kyaw Tint Swe Chair of AICHR “Taking Stock of developments in cooperation between United Nations and regional human rights mechanisms”

2. ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) • Established in October 2009 • The only regional human rights mechanisms in Asia • Intergovernmental in nature • A consultative body • An overarching institution with overall responsibility for the promotion and protection of human rights in ASEAN

3. Purposes The purpose of AICHR includes : 1.1 To Promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of the peoples of ASEAN; 1.5 To enhance regional cooperation with a view to complementing national and international efforts on the promotion and protection of human rights; 1.6 To uphold international human rights standards as prescribed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and the international human rights instruments to which ASEAN Member States are parties.

4. Principles AICHR is guided by its principles which include; 2.1 (d) adherence to the rule of law, good governance, the principles for democracy and constitutional government; (e) respect for fundamental freedoms, the promotion and protection of human rights, and the promotion of social justice; (f) upholding the Charter of the United Nations and international law, including international humanitarian law, subscribed to by ASEAN Member States; and (g) respect for different cultures, languages and religions of the peoples of ASEAN, while emphasising their common values in the spirit of unity in diversity.

5. 2.4 Pursuance of a constructive and non-confrontational approach and cooperation to enhance promotion and protection of human rights; and 2.5 Adoption of an evolutionary approach that would contribute to the development of human rights norms and standards in ASEAN.

6. Mandate and Function of AICHR To develop strategies for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms to complement the building of the ASEAN Community; To develop an ASEAN Human Rights Declaration with a view to establishing a framework for human rights cooperation through various ASEAN Conventions and other instruments dealing with human rights; To enhance public awareness of human rights among the peoples of ASEAN through education, research and dissemination of information.

7. To promote capacity building for the effective implementation of International Human Rights treaty obligations undertaken by ASEAN Member States; To encourage ASEAN Member States to consider acceding to and ratifying international human rights instruments; To promote the full implementation of ASEAN instruments related to human rights; To provide advisory services and technical assistance on human rights matters to ASEAN Sectoral Bodies upon request;

8. To develop common approaches and positions on human rights matters of interest to ASEAN; To prepare studies on thematic issues of human rights in ASEAN; To summit an annual report on its activities, or other reports if deemed necessary, to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting; and To perform any other task as maybe assigned to it by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting

9. Intergovernmental human rights instruments to which all ASEAN Members are party to • CEDAW • CRC • Disability Convention near by all members

10. ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) • Tasked by its TOR to develop an ASEAN Human Rights Delcartion • Adopted by ASEAN Leaders in November 2012 • The first stand setting, political document to codify the basic human rights and fundamental functions that ASEAN member states must respect, promote and protect • The first regional human rights instrument in the Asia Pacific region

11. AHRD • Emulates UDHR and several international human rights instruments including Vienna Declaration and Programme of action • Uniquely ASEAN • Supplements these global standards • Value added includes • Right to development • Right to peace • Right to a safe, clean and sustainable environment

12. Raising Awareness and Discrimination of AHRD • Translated into main languages of ASEAN Member States • Holding joint event with other ASEAN Bodies • (e.g. With CPR) • Youth competition on Arts and Human Rights

13. Funding and other resources for external parties • Solely for • (a) human rights promotion • (b) capacity building • (c) education • Observes • (a) ASEAN Centrality • (b) ASEAN ownership in designing and implementing cooperation activities

14. Activities conducted in 2013 A five-day Advanced Programme on Human Rights : Training of the Trainers in Bangkok, Thailand The Regional Workshop on the Human Rights – Based approach to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children in Makati City, the Philippines a two-day Regional Workshop on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Post 2015 and Human Rights in Jakarta, Indonesia The Regional Workshop on the Promotion of Maternal Health and Reduction of Maternal Mortality: Meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goal 5 in the Context of ASEAN Community in Manila, the Philippines An Outcome Workshop on the Thematic Study on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Human Rights in Singapore

15. Activities that are implemented in 2014 Advanced Programme on Human Rights : Training of the Trainers First and Second Coordination Workshop and Thematic Study on the Right to Peace Consultation with stakeholders on the review of the TOR of AICHR in 2014 Workshop with ASEAN Sectoral Bodies concerned on comparative human rights law studies Regional Workshop on the reporting obligations experience and best practices

16. (vi) Workshop to share best practices on implementation of the treaties (vii) Workshop with ASEAN Sectoral Bodies concerned on the development of other ASEAN legal instruments on human rights (viii) Workshop on Human Rights, Environment and Climate Change ( Responding to MDG Goal 07)

17. AICHR’s Cooperation with United Nations Agencies sine 2012 Regional Workshop of National Registrars on Best Practices in Birth Registration on 7 December 2012 (UNHCR) Regional Workshop and Consultation on Business and Human Rights in ASEAN on 11-12 December 2012 (UN Women) Intensive Learning Workshop on Women’s Human Rights (the Workshop) for the Regional and National Secretariats to ASEAN Human Rights’ Bodies on 18-21 March 2013 (UN Women) Major debates of human rights on International Standards on Process of Justice on 16-20 November (OHCHR) The second consultation on the Review of the AICHR’s TOR (UN Women)

18. Thank You.