PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): The Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) will convene its Special Meeting 1/2025 in Penang from April 8 to 10, marking it as the second meeting under the leadership of Malaysia’s representative to AICHR, Edmund Bon Tai Soon.
In a statement on Monday, the Foreign Ministry, widely known as Wisma Putra, said the meeting will bring together all AICHR representatives, including the representative of Timor-Leste as an observer, along with officials from the Asean Secretariat.
"Key agenda items include deliberations on recent developments in the region, particularly the devastating earthquake on March 28 that severely impacted the people in Myanmar and Thailand.
"AICHR will explore possible concrete measures to support a comprehensive and effective whole-of-Asean esponse to the disaster,” said the statement.
According to Wisma Putra, also on the agenda will be the first-of-its-kind interface consultation between AICHR and the Asean Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN) on April 8 to finalise the text of the Asean Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment.
"This historic dialogue will be preceded by a joint site visit to the Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), to share knowledge and good practices on environmental sustainability and measures to combat climate change,” it said.
It said that the commission will continue deliberations on Malaysia’s proposed ASEAN declaration on the right to peace and development (encompassing social, cultural, political and economic aspects), inclusive growth and sustainable development - key priorities under Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship theme of "Inclusivity and Sustainability”.
"An initiative to develop Asean pathways and conceptual frameworks on peace and conflict prevention, management and transformation is also on the agenda of the meeting.
"Additionally, AICHR will address institutional and operational matters aimed at enhancing its effectiveness and reinforcing its mandate to advance human rights in the Asean region,” it said. - Bernama
