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AICHR @10: A Better Future for Human Rights in ASEAN?
30 April, 2019 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Overview
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) was launched on 23 October 2009 in Thailand as a consultative body as part of the ASEAN’s efforts toward the creation of a “people-oriented community”. ASEAN member states promised that AICHR will be a regional space where the culture of human rights can evolve and lead to cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights.
The panel to be held on 30 April at 6.30 PM at SEA Junction will look back at AICHR record since its inception and discuss in how far promises have been realized: Has AICHR evolved into a stronger regional human rights mechanism? What did AICHR achieve in the last ten years? What have been the challenges and the gaps that AICHR faced? How can these challenges be addressed for AICHR to contribute to promotion of human rights regionally?
The panel speakers who will reflect on these and other related questions are the following:
- Yuyun Wahyuningrum, Representative of Indonesia to the AICHR
- Charles Hector, Human Rights Defender and Former Member of the Malaysian Bar Council
- Angkhana Neelapaijit, Commissioner, The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand No. 3 (2015 – Present)
Information about AICHR
The main objectives of the AICHR are to promote and protect human rights in the region. AICHR consists of ten country representatives to carry out fourteen mandates coming from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. Each country representative to AICHR hold the position for three years with the possibility to be re-appointed/selected for another term. In 2012, ASEAN Head of States/Governments adopted the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) which recognises civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. AHRD also includes right to development and right to peace.
Short bios
Yuyun Wahyuningrum is the Representative of Indonesia to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) of 2019-2021. She has spent more than twenty years working in different NGOs – at the national, regional and international ASEAN’s advocacy, especially on the area of ASEAN Political-Security and Socio-Cultural Pillars. She is also PhD candidate at the International Institute for Social Studies (ISS) in The Hague of the Erasmus University of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Her research deals with global-regional interaction of the human rights norms with specific focus on ASEAN as a site of contestation and the role of the participating actors.
Charles Hector is a Malaysian human rights defender and practicing lawyer who has been advocating human rights for decades. After graduation, he worked with the National Office for Human Development, then SUARAM and thereafter has been a lawyer. In 1993, he was instrumental in developing “The Malaysian Human Rights Charter” adopted by some 50 NGOS in 1993 and in the Malaysian Bar Legal Aid Dock-Brief. He was elected a member of the Bar Council 2005/2006 and was the Chairman of the committee for the elimination of discrimination in2005-2007. He was the treasurer of the National Human Rights Society (HAKAM) for four years and is a member of JUST and ALIRAN and one of the coordinators of the Malaysians Against Death Penalty & Torture (MADPET). Regionally, he was involved in the production of the 1st Human Rights Education Pack (HRE Pack) for the Asia-Pacific region in 1995 and was a Council member of Asia-Pacific Regional Resource Center for Human Rights Education (ARRC).
Angkhana Neelapaijit became a prominent human rights defender after her husband, lawyer Somchai was kidnapped and disappeared since 12 March, 2004. Angkhana is the founder and Chairwomen of Justice for Peace Foundation and works relentlessly to help victims of human rights abuses in Thailand and in the region. Her dedication has won her several national and international human rights awards, including the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, the European Parliament’s “Women Human Rights Defender” honor, “De Chevalier De I’Ordre de la Le’gion d’Honneur” from the French President, the Senate House’s “Prominent Women Human Rights Defender” and UN Women’s “Women of Achievement” award. At present, she is the Commissioner -National Human Rights Commission of Thailand her mandate covering Civil and Political right, Gender Equality and Situation of Human Rights Violation in Southern Border Provinces of Thailand.
Source: AICHR
The event is free, but donations are most welcome to enable SEA Junction to continue its activities and keep events accessible to the public.
For information/reservation for our events please email southeastasiajunction@gmail.com or phone/wa: +66970024140
Organizers:
SEA Junction, OUR Venue to Connect on Southeast Asia (see https://seajunction.org) SEA Junction aims to foster understanding and appreciation of Southeast Asia in all its socio-cultural dimensions –from arts and lifestyles to economy and development. Conveniently located at Room 408 of the Bangkok Arts and Culture Centre or BACC (across MBK, BTS National Stadium) SEA junction facilitates public access to knowledge resources and exchanges among students, practitioners and Southeast Asia lovers. For more information see seajunction.org and join the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1693055870976440/
