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Timor-Leste Hosts 21st Annual Conference of Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF)

PRESS RELEASE

Dili, Timor-Leste – November 19, 2024 – The Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) concluded its 21st Annual Conference today in Dili, Timor-Leste, with a renewed commitment to advancing human rights across the region. The conference, held on November 18-19, 2024, brought together National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) from Southeast Asia, as well as international partners and key stakeholders, to discuss critical human rights issues facing the region.

This year, the Ombudsman for Human Right and Justice  (PDHJ) of Timor-Leste is serving as the Chairperson of SEANF, and under its leadership, the Forum organized two technical working group meetings and the annual conference. These efforts highlight PDHJ Timor-Leste’s growing role in regional human rights advocacy. The chairmanship will be handed over to Komnas HAM, Indonesia, in 2025, with plans for continued collaboration on issues such as torture prevention, statelessness, migrant rights, and digital rights.

At the conference, participants discussed key priorities outlined in SEANF’s Strategic Plan (2022–2026), including ensuring human rights in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, advancing business and human rights, and preventing torture. Notable outcomes from the conference include updates on SEANF’s initiatives to address cross-border human rights challenges, particularly statelessness in Southeast Asia, and the Forum’s continued commitment to addressing the rights of marginalized groups, such as older persons and stateless communities.

Key Outcomes and Future Commitments
The 21st Annual Conference highlighted important progress on SEANF’s four key priorities:

  1. Human Rights and COVID-19: SEANF reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that human rights remain central to national responses to the COVID-19 crisis, particularly for marginalized communities.
  2. Human Rights in Business: SEANF continued its work on advancing human rights in business, with a focus on ensuring accountability and corporate responsibility in Southeast Asia.
  3. Torture Prevention: SEANF members renewed their commitment to preventing torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, with ongoing efforts to strengthen monitoring mechanisms.
  4. Strengthening SEANF’s Institutional Capacity: The Forum continued discussions on the future structure of SEANF’s Secretariat and the duration of the chairpersonship term, with an agreement to follow the chairmanship rotation model and further explore a permanent Secretariat.

Additionally, SEANF members affirmed their support for regional initiatives such as collaboration with ASEAN on migrant worker rights and the rights of victims of human trafficking. The Forum also recognized the growing importance of digital rights and cybersecurity, and committed to engaging in discussions at the upcoming RightsCon event in 2025.

Addressing Statelessness and Marginalized Communities
A key issue discussed was the ongoing challenge of statelessness in Southeast Asia, particularly in the context of communities living along border areas. SEANF members expressed their support for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP), SUHAKAM of Malaysia, and Komnas HAM of Indonesia, which seeks to address the human rights concerns of stateless persons, especially the Filipino and Indonesian communities in Sabah, Malaysia. The MOU, renewed in 2023, will remain in effect until 2028, and SEANF members pledged to continue their advocacy for the protection of stateless persons and refugees in the region.

Looking Ahead
As PDHJ Timor-Leste’s chairmanship of SEANF concludes in 2024, the Forum looks forward to the continued leadership of Komnas HAM, Indonesia, which will assume the chair in 2025. SEANF members reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration, strengthening partnerships with international bodies such as the UNHRC and APF, and advancing human rights for all people in Southeast Asia.

Call for Action
SEANF calls on all its members to continue engaging in dialogue, sharing best practices, and participating in joint initiatives to promote and protect human rights across the region. The Forum encourages governments, civil society, and other stakeholders to collaborate in ensuring that human rights remain a central focus of national and regional policies.

In closing, SEANF members reaffirm their dedication to the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Paris Principles, pledging to continue their collective efforts to ensure the realization of human rights for all people in Southeast Asia.

Adopted on: November 19, 2024
For and on behalf of the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF)

Signed by:
Dr. Atnike Nova Sigiro, Chairperson, Indonesia National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM)
Dato Seri Mohd Hishamudin Yunus, Chairperson, Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
Atty. Richard P. Palpal-latoc, Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights of Philippines (CHRP)
Mrs. Preeda Kongpaen, Commissioner, National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT)
Mr. Paw Lwin Sein, Chairperson, Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC)
Mr. Virgílio da Silva Guterres “Lamukan”, Provedor de Direitos Humanos e Justiça (PDHJ)

This post is also available in: Tetun

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