• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
 S-4/2552
Outcome of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting with the High-Level Panel(HLP) on Human Rights Body and the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting with theHigh Level Legal Experts’ Group on Follow-up to the ASEAN Charter (HLEG)
On 19 July 2009, Mr. Kasit Piromya, the Thai Foreign Minister, gave a pressconference reporting on the outcome of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting withthe High-Level Panel (HLP) on Human Rights Body and of the ASEAN ForeignMinisters Meeting with the High Level Legal Experts’ Group on Follow-up to theASEAN Charter (HLEG), both of which took place this afternoon. The main pointsdiscussed are as follows:
ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting with the High-Level Panel (HLP) on HumanRights Body
•
 
At the meeting with the HLP, the HLP Chair presented the final draftof the Terms of Reference of an ASEAN Human Rights Body. The Foreign Ministerscomplimented the HLP for their commendable efforts and agreed to discuss the draftToR at the Foreign Ministers Retreat tomorrow.
•
 
From the preliminary discussions, the Ministers are generallysupportive of the draft ToR and the proposed name “ASEAN Inter-GovernmentalCommission on Human Rights.”
•
 
The Ministers also discussed a proposal to issue a political declarationat the 15
th
ASEAN Summit, and agreed that one of the elements to be included in thepolitical declaration is that in the review period of five years, the ToR will bestrengthened in the mandate and function on promotion and protection.
•
 
It is hoped that the Ministers would be able to endorse the ToR at theForeign Ministers Retreat so that each ASEAN country can begin national selection of the members of the body immediately after this meeting. ASEAN plans to launch thisASEAN human rights body at the 15
th
ASEAN Summit in October.
•
 
The human rights body will comprise one representative appointed byeach ASEAN member country serving a three-year term. These representatives willneed to be impartial but need not come from Government.
•
 
The purpose of the human rights body is the promotion and protection of human rights in ASEAN. Its tasks include enhancing public awareness of human rights,engaging with other ASEAN bodies, including civil society associated with ASEAN,obtaining information from Member States on promotion and protection of human rights,and consulting with relevant national, regional and institutions and entities.
•
 
The ToR reflects a maximum consensus among ASEAN countries atthis time. It is important to make this human rights body credible and take intoaccount the real situation in ASEAN member countries. So this ToR is the beginningof an evolving process.
•
 
The ToR is a living document that provides an evolutionary framework – a platform – for furthering ASEAN’s efforts in the promotion and protection of human rights. It will be reviewed five years after its entry into force. This will openthe door for further enhancement of the body’s role.
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...