Malaysia-led AICHR workshops in Jakarta to advance peace, human rights in Asean

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet, left and Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, right shake hands as Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim gestures after talks on a possible ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Monday, July 28, 2025. The AICHR workshops will use a case study simulation to explore practical applications of Asean’s peace initiatives. Pool Photo via AP

JAKARTA: The Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), led by Malaysia with co-proponents Indonesia and Thailand, on Wednesday (Aug 13) began a series of workshops in Jakarta on conflict prevention, peacebuilding and human rights.

In a statement, Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry said the workshops, held from Wednesday to Aug 15, are part of the "AICHR Regional Training Programme on Human Rights - Workshops on the Intersection Between Conflict and Human Rights: Pathways and Approaches to Peace in Asean.”

"The three Jakarta workshops will discuss mechanisms for conflict prevention and peacebuilding, international peace frameworks and approaches, and protecting human rights of all in conflict situations, while using a case study simulation to explore practical applications of Asean’s peace initiatives,” the statement read.

The Foreign Ministry stated that the sessions are part of a six-part programme to develop an Asean framework for conflict prevention, crisis management and peacebuilding, in line with the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Asean 2045: Our Shared Future, adopted on May 26 this year.

"This initiative is part of Malaysia’s inclusivity and sustainability agenda to promote and protect regional peace and security as the 2025 Asean Chair,” it stated.

Participants include Asean representatives, diplomats, academics, peace mediators, experts and civil society members.

The workshops aim to foster dialogue, exchange good practices, and strengthen collaborative approaches to advance inclusive and rights-based approaches to peace across the region, the statement read. - Bernama