The ASEAN human rights group will focus on the rights of victims and survivors in conflict situations, as well as peace-building initiatives, according to Edmund Bon Tai Soon, chair of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR).
He said that at a recent retreat in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, AICHR members met and agreed on this year’s priorities, which include the right to peace and proposed ASEAN declarations on environmental rights, inclusive growth, sustainable development, and the right to development.
Furthermore, Edmund stated that AICHR will strengthen collaboration with ASEAN sectoral bodies and dialogue partners, as well as enhance engagement with civil society organizations.
Photo: Edmund Bon Tai Soon
The AICHR chair said that this year's agenda will be aligned with the broader ASEAN chairmanship theme, "Inclusivity and
Sustainability."
Ahead of the retreat, AICHR held a transition workshop to ensure a seamless handover between several outgoing and incoming AICHR representatives.
Dr. Bhanubhatra Jittiang, the new Thai AICHR representative, also attended the retreat. He replaced Dr. Amara Pongpanich, who served as Thailand’s representative from 2009 to 2024. Bhanubhatra is an associate professor of international relations at Chulalongkorn University.
In interviews with local media, he said that his three-year term will focus on building upon the initiatives of his predecessors, including advancing the rights of persons with disabilities and environmental rights, which are currently under negotiation for a regional declaration.
Additionally, he stated that he would pursue issues affecting multiple countries in the region. He noted that political vacuums created by conflict often lead to lawlessness, enabling illicit activities such as human trafficking and online scams to thrive.
He also highlighted the rights of migrant laborers, stressing the importance of establishing clear policies to protect their rights. ASEAN already has frameworks for migrant workers, and his work will involve strengthening and expanding these frameworks.
Furthermore, he pointed out that despite existing challenges, trust and cooperation among ASEAN member states enable progress on critical issues such as human trafficking—a shared concern across the region.
He added that ASEAN countries continue to work on protecting vulnerable groups, including children, women, and persons with disabilities.
AICHR is ASEAN’s overarching human rights institution, responsible for promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms in the region.
