PH Discusses Children, Women, Peace, and Security Agenda at 4th ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights

Representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) join delegates from National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), representatives from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and other representatives from the European Union in the 4th ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia on 24-26 October 2022.

JAKARTA, 04 November 2022 – Philippine Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary Aileen S. Mendiola-Rau focused on children’s rights and access to justice during her presentation at the 4th ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights on 24-26 October 2022 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“While what we want is the realization of rights, the next best thing is to provide access to justice, access to effective remedies. We need to provide inclusive access to justice for all children without discrimination. In this regard, it is important to develop and utilize age-appropriate, disability-inclusive, gender-responsive, and needs and rights-based justice procedures and facilities for all children. Children have problems accessing the courts. Therefore, courts need to be child friendly. Lawyers need to be able to help children victims to access courts. The Global Declaration on Justice with Children issued in November 2021 can be a good source document for its detailed recommendations on this topic,” said Ms. Mendiola-Rau in one of her recommendations on the way forward.

Other speakers from the Philippines were Professor Lourdesita Sobrevega-Chan, Philippine Women’s Rights Representative of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children, who delivered a presentation on regional commitments on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), and Atty. Richard Palpal-latoc, Chairperson of the Philippines’ Commission on Human Rights, who discussed the Philippines’ national perspectives on Human Rights.

The 3-day Dialogue saw the participation of speakers and delegates from the AICHR, National Human Rights Institutions, various Civil Society Organizations, and other delegates from the European Union who discussed a broad range of human rights issues in both the EU and ASEAN. Topics that were discussed included the rights of migrant workers, trafficking in persons, freedom of expression, rights of Persons with Disabilities, business and human rights, environmental rights, women’s rights and gender equality, and children’s rights.

The Dialogue was organized by AICHR Indonesia Representative Ms. Yuyun Wahyuningrum and AICHR Cambodia Representative Mr. Chin Malin, and co-Chaired by the European Special Representative on Human Rights Mr. Eamon Gilmore. END

Deputy Assistant Secretary Aileen Mendiola-Rau asks the hard questions during the session on business and human rights at the 4th ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia on 24-26 October 2022.