Philippines Calls for Open Discussions on Responsibility to Protect (R2P) in ASEAN

DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary and Philippine Representative to the AICHR Aileen S. Mendiola-Rau participated in the Regional Consultation on Responsibility to Protect in ASEAN. (DFA-ASEAN photo)

MANILA, 19 December 2022 – Deputy Assistant Secretary and Philippine Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Aileen S. Mendiola-Rau advocated for an open and frank discourse on Responsibility to Protect (R2P) in ASEAN, stressing that it should never be used in undermining the sovereignty of States. 

Deputy Assistant Secretary Mendiola-Rau participated as one of the “trigger speakers” in the Regional Consultation on R2P in Southeast Asia organized by the Asia Pacific for the Responsibility to Protect of the University of Queensland and Centre for Strategic and International Studies last 14 December 2022 in Jakarta, Indonesia and via videoconference.

During the consultation, the Philippines said that AICHR’s discussion on the protection mandate should focus on three (3) pillars: the protection responsibilities of the State; international assistance and capacity-building; and timely and decisive response. 

“AICHR can lead the work towards a common understanding of when a State is manifestly failing to protect its population from the four specific crimes and violations [i.e., genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity]” she said. 

“[The] ASEAN Charter is clear on the principles of sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, non-interference, consensus and unity in diversity. However, non-interference should not be used as a blanket consent for violence committed against civilians” she emphasized, referring to the ongoing developments in the region. 

Attended by various regional stakeholders, the consultation was held to consolidate inputs from ASEAN Member States and ASEAN Sectoral Bodies in developing a possible framework on R2P. END

DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary and Philippine Representative to the AICHR Aileen S. Mendiola-Rau stressed on the role of AICHR as the human rights body of ASEAN in discussions on Responsibility to Protect. (DFA-ASEAN photo)