PH Attends AICHR Special Meeting in Siem Reap, Reports Progress of Human Rights Initiatives

AICHR Representatives attended the Special Meeting 02/2022 and discussed recent developments in the region, updates on Activities under the Priority Programmes/Activities of AICHR, and interface with its External Partners. (Photo courtesy of AICHR Cambodia)

SIEM REAP, 01 December 2022 — Philippine Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary Aileen S. Mendiola-Rau attended the Special Meeting 02/2022 of AICHR held on 16-17 November 2022 in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

During the Meeting, the AICHR Representatives discussed the progress of the implementation of the Priority Programs and Activities, Thematic Studies, and Monitoring and Evaluation of the AICHR Five-Year Work Plan 2021-2025.

Ms. Mendiola-Rau updated AICHR with the latest information on the country’s human rights issues, notably the 4th Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Philippines which was held on 14-16 November 2022. She also spoke at length about Philippine human rights priorities, such as cooperation with the Human Rights Council (HRC) on various issues including children’s, migrants’, and indigenous people’s rights and how these intersect with other issues like business and climate change.

During the Meeting, AICHR Representatives held an interface meeting with the Representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Both human rights bodies provided updates on their work and discussed possible areas of cooperation.

Ms. Mendiola-Rau shared copies of the Philippine publication on the ASEAN Dialogue on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child General Comments, which was hosted by AICHR-Philippines in December 2021 in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (UNICEF-EAPRO), the South-East Asia Regional Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR-SEARO), and Child Rights Coalition Asia (CRC Asia). 

At the conclusion of the Special Meeting, AICHR Cambodia handed over the Chairmanship of the body to AICHR Indonesia. The Special Meeting 2/2022 is the last Meeting of AICHR Representatives for 2022. END

Philippine Representative to the AICHR and Deputy Assistant Secretary Aileen S. Mendiola-Rau and AICHR Assistant and Acting Director Lyza Maria S. Viejo shared and discussed the Philippines’ priorities on human rights during the Special Meeting of AICHR in Siem Reap, Cambodia.  Photo from AICHR Cambodia. (Photo courtesy of AICHR Cambodia)

Deputy Assistant Secretary Aileen S. Mendiola-Rau handed over to Ms. Cynthia Veliko from the South-East Asia Regional Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights a copy of the publication of the Dialogue on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child General Comments. (Photo courtesy of AICHR Cambodia)

Representatives from the United Nations discussed possible cooperation with AICHR on human rights in the region. (Photo courtesy of AICHR Cambodia)

Turnover of AICHR Chairmanship from AICHR Cambodia to AICHR Indonesia. Photo from AICHR Cambodia. (Photo courtesy of AICHR Cambodia)