The meeting also discussed the draft Term of Reference of AICHR Drafting Group for ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, a press statement of the Jakarta-based ASEAN Secretariat said here Wednesday.
The Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, Bagas Hapsoro, said at the plenary meeting that he was pleased to see the progress of the AICHR, despite being launched a little over a year ago.
Bagas cautioned, "As a new ASEAN organ, there is high expectation on what the AICHR can achieve within its mandate to promote and protect human rights."
Expressing his great hope for the future of the AICHR, DSG Bagas concluded, "I am confident that the decisions taken in Solo will help ensure that the AICHR develops into a credible and respected regional body on human rights for the region."
The Fourth AICHR meeting was held from 10 - 13 February 2011 in Solo, Central Java. This Meeting was the first meeting of AICHR in 2011 Chaired by the Indonesian Representative, Chair of AICHR.
The Meeting`s rich agenda included discussion on and adoption of The Guidelines of Operations of AICHR.
It also discussed the draft Term of Reference of AICHR Drafting Group for ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. In addition, the Meeting considered the draft Terms of Reference of the thematic studies on CSR and Human Rights and Migration, and the invitations from some ASEAN Dialogue Partners and ASEAN Sectoral Bodies.
The meeting also took cognizance of the proposed AICHR Workshop on Statelessness and the Rights of Women and Children, and a concept paper on the best practices to promote and protect maternal health in ASEAN Member States.
At the invitation of AICHR, Ngurah Swajaya, the Chairperson of the ASEAN Committee of Permanent Representative (CPR) attended the meeting and had a substantive dialogue with AICHR under the agenda of Engagement with ASEAN Organs and Sectoral bodies and other entities associated with ASEAN.
It was agreed that AICHR and CPR will enhance their cooperation especially in facilitating human rights cooperation with ASEAN Dialogue Partners.
The Meeting agreed that the year of 2011 will be the year of implementation of the work of AICHR to further promote and protect human rights in ASEAN, thus contributing to making ASEAN more people-centered.
The Meeting also considered the possible study visit to Europe on human rights matters at the invitation of the European Commission.
The Fifth ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights meeting is scheduled to be held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta between 25-29 April 2011.
(T.F001/F001/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
