The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened its 33rd Meeting on 6-8 April 2021 via videoconference. The Meeting was chaired by H.E Hajah Nor Hashimah Haji Mohammed Taib, Representative of Brunei Darussalam to AICHR, and was attended by Representatives/Alternate Representatives of AICHR, and the ASEAN Secretariat.
AICHR deliberated its strategies to contribute to the implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) and the Strategic and Holistic Initiative to Link ASEAN Responses to Emergencies and Disasters (ASEAN SHIELD). The Meeting discussed progress of the implementation of the AICHR Priority Programmes/Activities of 2021 in the areas of right to health, freedom of opinion and expression, right to development, right to nationality, rights of the child as well as human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). AICHR also deliberated measures to strengthening governance and efficiency of the AICHR programmes and activities as well as the development of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework of the AICHR Five-Year Work Plan 2021-2025.
During this meeting, AICHR also discussed the current developments on human rights in ASEAN. The Meeting took note of the update on the Philippines-UN Joint Programme on Human Rights. The Meeting also discussed concerns on the escalation of violence and deterioration of the situation in Myanmar while calling on all parties concerned to maintain stability and return to normalcy in the country so that collectively, ASEAN and the region can achieve peace, security and prosperity. AICHR expressed its readiness to assist Myanmar in any tasks as may be assigned by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
At this Meeting, the AICHR Representatives held their annual interface with the Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, with a focus of discussion on cross-sectoral and cross-pillar areas that AICHR could consider contributing to the implementation of the ASEAN strategic frameworks and initiatives in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing the regional recovery.
AICHR also held its annual interface with the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), with discussions focused on  necessary support to the implementation of the AICHR Five-Year Work Plan 2021-2025 and possible AICHR-CPR collaboration.
The AICHR Representatives also met with the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), which is one of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) having consultative relationship with AICHR. The meeting discussed potential areas for further engagement between AICHR and FORUM-ASIA in the promotion and protection of human rights in ASEAN.
The Meeting expressed its appreciation to AICHR Brunei Darussalam for the excellent arrangements of the virtual meeting.
