ASEAN Holds Dialogue to Promote Rights of Child

(Foreground from left) Ambassador of Switzerland Andrea Reichlin, Malaysia’s ACWC Representative on Children’s Rights Prof. Dato’ Noor Aziah Mohd Awal, alternate representative of AICHR-Singapore Dr. Shashi Jayakumar, and Philippine Representative to AICHR Leo M. Herrera-Lim. (DFA ASEAN photo)

MANILA 05 November 2018 –To raise awareness and increase understanding on the implementation of the rights of the child, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)-Philippines conducted the ASEAN Dialogue on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and Its Related Instruments in Manila on 25-26 October 2018.

The event was held with AICHR-Singapore, in collaboration with Child Rights Coalition Asia and with the support of the Switzerland Embassy in Manila.

The dialogue focused on the three CRC Optional Protocols of the UNCRC, namely the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography, and the Optional Protocol on a Communications Procedure.

ASEAN member states are party to the UNCRC but have not ratified all of the optional protocols. The discussions dealt with the possibilities and challenges of ratifying the protocols.

The presentors included Vice Chair and Thailand’s Representative on Children’s Rights to the ACWC Atty. Wanchai Roujanavong, UNCRC former Member Atty. Yasmeen Muhammad Shariff, National Human Rights Commission of Indonesia Chairman Ahmad Taufan Damanik, ECPAT International Legal Consultant Atty. Dorine van Der Keur, and UNCRC Member Atty. Mikiko Otani.

The event is in line with AICHR’s mandates to enhance public awareness of human rights; promote capacity building for the effective implementation of international human rights treaty obligations undertaken by ASEAN Member States; and encourage ASEAN member states to consider acceding to and ratifying international human rights instruments. ###

(From left): AICHR-Singapore Dr. Shashi Jayakumar, Swiss Ambassador Andrea Reichlin, CRC Asia Amihan Abueva, Singapore’s ACWC Representative on Children’s Rights Koh Choon Hui, and Philippine Representative to AICHR Leo M. Herrera-Lim. (DFA ASEAN photo)

Participants at the closing of the ASEAN Dialogue on the UNCRC and its Related Instruments. (DFA ASEAN photo)