Langkawi, Malaysia, 10-14 February 2025 – The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened its 40th Meeting in Langkawi, Malaysia, under the chairmanship of Ambassador Edmund Bon Tai Soon, Malaysia’s Representative and Chair of AICHR for 2025. The meeting was attended by AICHR Representatives, Alternate Representatives, and the ASEAN Secretariat. Timor-Leste participated as an observer, represented by Deputy Ombudsman for Good Governance, Rigoberto Monteiro, alongside Gregorio Jong Maia, Media Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), and Olga Vilanova Sequeira.
The meeting commenced with the AICHR Transition Workshop on 10 February 2025, themed “Building Better and Stronger, and Staying Relevant, Inclusive, Innovative, and People-Centred.” The workshop aimed to facilitate the transition of outgoing AICHR Representatives (2022–2024) and incoming Representatives (2025–2027). Former AICHR representatives shared insights on the commission’s challenges, strategies, and aspirations since its establishment in 2009. Outgoing representatives provided updates on AICHR’s ongoing work, including its Terms of Reference and Five-Year Work Plans for 2021–2025 and 2026–2030. Discussions covered institutional and operational matters, emerging human rights trends, and key challenges facing AICHR. The workshop also included a dialogue with experts and key stakeholders on AICHR’s evolution and strategic direction.
The AICHR Representatives’ Assistants Meeting followed, beginning with the adoption of the agenda and a review of the summary record of the 2024 Special Meeting. Representatives deliberated on the progress of the Five-Year Work Plan (FYWP) 2021–2025 and its 2025 Priority Programmes and Activities, with a particular focus on thematic areas such as: Environmental rights, Business and human rights, Digital rights, Countering human trafficking and violent extremism, Rights of persons with disabilities, The right to development, and The implementation of human rights treaties ratified by ASEAN Member States.
AICHR also deliberated on the proposed ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, and Sustainable Environment, following a mandate from the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in 2024. Additionally, Malaysia introduced a proposal for an ASEAN Declaration promoting Peace, Inclusive Growth, Sustainable Development, and the Right to Development, aligning with its ASEAN Chairmanship theme for 2025.
The meeting received updates from AICHR Representatives and Alternate Representatives on recent human rights developments across ASEAN, including new national laws, regulations, and initiatives in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
AICHR also adopted the Thematic Study on the Right to Peace, led by Lao PDR, and agreed to publish the report on the AICHR website along with other reports from AICHR programmes. The study aims to inspire further efforts to promote a culture of peace and human rights.
On institutional matters, AICHR conducted an overall assessment of its work over the past 15 years, including past self-assessments. These discussions were aimed at formulating recommendations to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) on AICHR’s future priorities for the next five years.
In parallel, the Working Group for the AICHR Five-Year Work Plan (WG-FYWP) convened on 11 February 2025, agreeing on a revised timeline for its meetings and preliminary activities for the upcoming FYWP (2026–2030). Updates from the working group were presented to AICHR Representatives and Alternate Representatives.
The meeting concluded with an AICHR Retreat, where representatives deliberated on priority areas under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, including the proposed ASEAN declaration on environmental rights.
AICHR expressed appreciation to AICHR Malaysia and the ASEAN Secretariat for the successful meeting arrangements.
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