AKP Phnom Penh, February 18, 2025 -- 

A delegation of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee led by its member H.E. Pa Ponnarada participated in the 40th meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in Langkawi, Malaysia,

The meeting, held from Feb. 11 to 14, 2025 under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” was chaired by H.E. Edmund Bon Tai Soon, AICHR Chair for 2025 and attended by AICHR Representatives and Alternate Representatives, including Timor-Leste as Observer, as well as Representative of the ASEAN Secretariat.

According to a press release of AICHR, in the meeting, AICHR deliberated on the progress implementation of the Five-Year Work Plan (FYWP) 2021-2025 and its 2025 Priority Programmes/Activities, with a particular focus on thematic areas such as environmental rights, business and human rights, digital rights, countering human trafficking and violent extremism, rights of persons with disabilities, right to development, and implementation of human rights treaties that the ASEAN Member States are parties to, among others.

AICHR also deliberated on the proposed ASEAN declaration related to the right to a safe, clean and sustainable environment towards progressing it as tasked by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in its 57th Meeting’s Joint Communique 2024. In addition, Malaysia introduced a proposal for an ASEAN declaration promoting peace, inclusive growth, sustainable development and the right to development, aligning with the theme of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025.

The Meeting received updates from AICHR Representatives and Alternate Representatives on recent human rights developments across ASEAN, including new national laws, regulations and initiatives in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

AICHR also adopted the Thematic Study on the Right to Peace, led by Lao PDR, and agreed for the report to be made available on the AICHR website and other reports that are outcomes of AICHR programmes. The study can inspire the work for peace with a higher mission to advance a culture of peace and human rights.

On institutional matters, AICHR discussed the overall assessment of its work over the past 15 years and AICHR’s past self-assessments. These discussions aimed to formulate recommendations to the AMM on AICHR’s future priorities for the next five years.

A Retreat among AICHR Representatives and Alternate Representatives deliberated various AICHR priority areas during Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, including the proposed ASEAN declaration related to the right to a safe, clean and sustainable environment.

In parallel, the Working Group for the AICHR Five-Year Work Plan (WG-FYWP) convened its first meeting on Feb. 11, 2025, agreeing on a revised timeline for the meetings of WG-FYWP and to preliminarily populate the indicative activities for the new FYWP. Updates were presented to AICHR Representatives and Alternate Representatives.

Preceding the 40th Meeting of AICHR, AICHR held the Transition Workshop on Feb. 10, 2025, themed “Building better and stronger, and staying relevant, inclusive, innovative and people-centred,” to facilitate the transition of outgoing AICHR Representatives (2022-2024) and incoming AICHR Representatives (2025-2027).

The Meeting expressed its appreciation to AICHR Malaysia and the ASEAN Secretariat for the excellent meeting arrangements.

By Phal Sophanith