Tangerang, Indonesia, 29 July 2026 – Deputy Ombudsman for Good Governance of the Provedoria dos Direitos Humanos e Justiça (PDHJ), Rigoberto Monteiro, participated as a speaker at the AICHR Consultation on Human Rights Index 2026, held in Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia, from 28–29 July 2026. Organised by the Indonesian Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), the consultation brought together representatives from ASEAN Member States, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), civil society organisations, academia, and regional experts to advance discussions on the development of an ASEAN Human Rights Index. The consultation builds on the initial discussions launched in 2024 and aims to develop a regional mechanism for measuring human rights progress across Southeast Asia.
Speaking from the perspective of PDHJ as Timor-Leste’s National Human Rights Institution and Ombudsman, Deputy Ombudsman Rigoberto Monteiro highlighted the critical role of reliable and evidence-based data in advancing human rights protection and good governance. He stressed that accurate data enables NHRIs to conduct effective advocacy, monitor public policies, identify emerging human rights concerns, and formulate recommendations that contribute to better governance and accountability.
The consultation explored technical and methodological approaches for developing the proposed ASEAN Human Rights Index, including discussions on indicators, data sources, institutional arrangements, and regional human rights data ecosystems. Participants also exchanged experiences on how existing ASEAN mechanisms and national practices could contribute to a regionally owned framework that supports evidence-informed policymaking while remaining consistent with the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration and AICHR’s mandate.
The two-day consultation concluded with breakout group discussions to identify priority issues and possible indicators for the future ASEAN Human Rights Index. The outcomes and recommendations from the consultation will inform AICHR’s continued consideration of a regional human rights measurement framework that promotes dialogue, strengthens regional cooperation, and supports the protection and promotion of human rights across ASEAN.
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