Philippines Highlights Child Rights Advocacy during AIHCR Special Meeting

Assistant Secretary and Temporary Representative of the Philippines to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Jaime Jaime Victor B. Ledda, Temporary Representative of the Philippines to the AICHR, heads the Philippine delegation during the Special Meeting of the AICHR 02/2021

PASAY CITY 29 November 2021 — Assistant Secretary and Representative of the Philippines to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Jaime Victor B. Ledda underscored AICHR Philippines’ advocacy on children’s rights at the Special Meeting 02/2021 of the AICHR on23-24 November 2021.

Assistant Secretary Ledda informed the Meeting on the upcoming ASEAN Dialogue on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which will be hosted by the Philippines on 07-08 December 2021, and that this would serve as a venue to strengthen ASEAN’s efforts in advocating for rights of children in the region.

He expressed optimism that the exchanges of information in the Dialogue will strengthen protection of rights and interests of children, during and post-pandemic.

During the two-day Meeting, AICHR Representatives discussed the progress on AICHR’s priority programs and activities, status of the AICHR Five Year Work Plan (2021-2025), development of the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the Work Plan. AICHR also discussed the preparations for the transition with incoming AICHR Representatives of 2022-2024.

On the last day of the Meeting, AICHR met with the Australia and the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institution Forum (SEANF) to discuss areas of common concerns and areas of cooperation. Assistant Secretary Ledda conveyed the Philippines’ appreciation to both, and looked forward to further cooperation in protecting rights of vulnerable groups, which include children, women, and migrant workers.

The Meeting concluded with a handover ceremony of the AICHR Chairmanship from AICHR Brunei Darussalam to AICHR Cambodia. END

Representatives from the Australian Mission to ASEAN and the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), as well as with the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institution Forum (SEANF) during its interface with AICHR

AICHR Representatives, AICHR Assistants, and ASEAN Secretariat Human Rights Division pose for their annual group photo during the closing ceremony of the last AICHR Meeting for 2021.