PH AICHR Representative Joins Special Meeting in Cambodia to Promote Human Rights in ASEAN

AICHR Representatives meet in-person for the first time after 2 years for a Special Meeting to discuss human rights issues and concerns in ASEAN (Photo from AICHR Cambodia).

PHNOM PENH 02 August 2022 - The Representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened the Special Meeting 01/2022 from 30 July 02 August 2022 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to discuss human rights issues and concerns in the region. This is the first in-person gathering of AICHR since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Philippine delegation was headed by DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary Aileen S. Mendiola-Rau, the Philippine Representative to the AICHR. She was joined by Principal Assistant Kate Clarisse Tungod, who also attended the AICHR Assistants’ Meeting.

During the Special Meeting, Deputy Assistant Secretary Mendiola-Rau called on her fellow Representatives to continue the transparent and open dialogue to discuss the challenges and opportunities in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms in ASEAN. 

Deputy Assistant Secretary Mendiola-Rau likewise announced that the Philippines will be organizing two major events this year, namely the ASEAN Dialogue on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Concluding Observations and the AICHR Workshop on Best Practices in Promoting Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge in Responding and Adapting to the Impact of Climate Change.

The Meeting was also updated on recent developments and initiatives on human rights in some ASEAN Member States by AICHR Representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

The Special Meeting 01/2022 was held before the Interface Meeting between the AICHR Representatives, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and the ASEAN Secretary General, during which AICHR discussed its Annual Report for 2022 and its proposed programs, projects, and activities for the next year. END

Philippine Representative to the AICHR and DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary Aileen S. Mendiola-Rau attends the Special Meeting of AICHR 01/2022 and urged her fellow AICHR Representatives to continue the open dialogues on human rights in ASEAN.  Photo from AICHR Cambodia.