The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Philippines pushed for two major projects during the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship this year during the 23rd Meeting of AICHR in Boracay on February 13-15.
These projects are: 1) thematic study on protecting the rights of women in natural disaster situations; and (2) a follow-up workshop on the development of the legal instruments on human rights in ASEAN.
The thematic study on protecting the rights of women in natural disaster situations was earlier approved in principle during the 22nd AICHR Meeting in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR on 23-25 November 2016. The meeting in Boracay approved the guidelines on the conduct of field visits in ASEAN Member States to support the thematic study.
The study aims to compile current policies and practices as regards the protection of women human rights in situations of natural disasters; document best practices in mainstreaming gender in natural disaster responses and assistance as well as in post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation; and analyze the results of the study and provide concrete recommendations with regard to the framing of a draft ASEAN Regional Action Plan on Women in Natural Disaster Contexts.
The follow-up consultation workshop on the development of the legal instruments on human rights, on the other hand, will build on the findings and recommendations of the first workshop that AICHR Philippines hosted in September 2015.
The second workshop seeks to identify elements among the existing international human rights legal instruments that are applicable in the context of ASEAN as well as elements that are uniquely ASEAN.
Following the inputs and insights of the other AICHR Representatives, AICHR Philippines will enhance its concept note for this workshop and re-submit it for adoption during the next meeting of AICHR in May in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The 23rd AICHR Meeting also approved the Philippines’ proposal for AICHR to come up with a 50th Anniversary Edition of the AICHR Booklet and Video.
Mr. Leo M. Herrera-Lim, Philippine Representative to AICHR and Chair of AICHR in 2017, presided over the meeting in Boracay. All ASEAN Member States were well represented in the meeting.
In attendance were H.E Dato Yahya Idris of Brunei Darussalam, Mr. Chenda Sreang of Cambodia, Dr. Dinna Wisnu of Indonesia, Mr. Phoukhong Sisoulath of Lao PDR, Mr. Edmund Bon Tai Soon of Malaysia, H.E. U Hla Myint of Myanmar, H.E. Barry Desker of Singapore, Dr. Seree Nonthasoot of Thailand, H.E. Nguyen Thi Nha of Viet Nam, and Ms. Leena Ghosh of the ASEAN Secretariat. END