On the occasion of the inauguration of
the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), Solidarity
for Asian Peoples Advocacy Task Force on ASEAN and Human Rights reiterated
its expectation that the Commission will be accountable, independent
and effective in protecting and promoting human rights throughout the
region.
(Cha-am, Thailand,
25^th October 2009) On the occasion of the inauguration of
the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), Solidarity
for Asian Peoples Advocacy Task Force on ASEAN and Human Rights (SAPA
TF-AHR), a coalition of more than 70 non-government organisations, reiterates
its expectation that the Commission will be accountable, independent
and effective in protecting and promoting human rights throughout the
region. 

While welcoming
the open and inclusive selection process in Indonesia and Thailand,
SAPA-TF-HR expresses its deep disappointment that the selection process
in the rest of member states was exclusively done by government officials
and without consultation and participation from civil society.  

"We congratulate
representatives from the civil society sector. After 43 years of ASEAN,
this is a positive development for the Association. We hope that all
the representatives will work independently, as representatives of the
peoples, not governments. We would like to remind them that they should
also work impartially as stated in the terms of reference of the AICHR
", said Yap Swee Seng, co-convenor of the SAPA TF-AHR and the executive
director of the Asian Forum on Human Rights Development (FORUM-ASIA).
"Now it is time to act!", added Yap. 

The Thailand
focal point of the SAPA TF-AHR, Chalida Tajaroensuk said, "AICHR should
prioritise the development of modalities for active protection of human
rights, including conducting country visits, handling complaints from
individuals and organisations, publishing thematic and annual reports
and requiring states to submit periodic reports on their human rights
laws, policies and practice". 

Sr. Cressencia
Lucero, the Philippines focal point of the SAPA TF-AHR said, "AICHR
should address robustly and effectively the cross-border and regional
human rights violations in ASEAN, foremost among which is the situation
in Burma". 

"AICHR should
ensure that its work integrates women's human rights and that it hears
the divers voices of ASEAN including the disadvantaged, the marginalised
and the oppressed" said Wathshlah Naidu, the gender focal point of
SAPA TF-AHR. Mary Ann Manja Bayang, the focal point for the rights of
indigenous peoples said, "We want the AICHR to institutionalise frequent
and meaningful dialogue and engagement with civil society and peoples'
organisations in its work. Facilitating an annual CSO Forum with the
AICHR is a way to go". 

"SAPA-TFHR
will closely monitor the work of the AICHR; it will help the Commission
to the extent that it truly promotes and protects human rights, and
will criticise it whenever it strays from this mandate", added Haris
Azhar, the current co-convenor of the SAPA TF-AHR. 

Background

The ASEAN Charter,
Article 14 provides the ASEAN leaders a mandate to establish a human
rights body as one of the mechanisms for ASEAN members to "pursue
closer interaction and cooperation to forge shared norms and create
common mechanisms to achieve ASEAN's goals and objectives in the political
and security fields" (ASEAN Political-Security Community Blue Print,
para.7). The adoption of the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the establishment
of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) on
20 July during the 42^nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in
Phuket, Thailand, and followed by the inauguration of the body in the
coming 15^th ASEAN Summit in Hua-Hin, Thailand, on 23-25 October
2009 will bring ASEAN to higher plane in regard to development of human
rights region.

SAPA TF-AHR
was established during the first Regional Consultation on ASEAN and
Human Rights in Kuala Lumpur on 26-28 August 2007. It is a network of
civil society organisations which aims to a) hold ASEAN member states
accountable to their international and domestic human rights obligations,
and b) make the ASEAN human rights mechanisms more accountable and effective.
Early in 2009, the SAPA TF-AHR launched the campaign on "we want ASEAN
human rights commission with teeth!: accountable, effective and independent".

For inquiries,
please contact: 

• Mr. Yap Swee Seng, Executive
  Director, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
  at [email protected], or +66 81 868 9178 
  
• Mr. Haris Azhar,
  Deputy Coordinator, The Commission for Disappearances and Victims of
  Violence (KONTRAS) (Indonesia), at [email protected], or + 62 815 1330 2342 
  
• Sr. Cres Lucero, Task Force
  Detainees of the Philippines (in Manila), +632 437 8054, [email protected]    
• Mr. Sinapan Samydorai, Think
  Centre, (in Singapore), at [email protected], or +65 9479 1906 
  
• Mr. Moon Hui
  Tah Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), at [email protected], or +60 (0) 12 720 9981 
  
• Ms. Chalida
  Tajaroensuk, Executive Director, People's Empowerment Foundation 
  at: [email protected], or +66 (0) 818 085 622  
  
• Ms. Mary Ann
  Manja Bayang, Indigenous Peoples Rights Monitor, at [email protected], or +63 (0) 917 8829 901 
  
• Ms. Yuyun Wahyuningrum, East
  Asia Program Manager, FORUM-ASIA, at [email protected], or +66 87 991 4451