MANILA (Bernama-PNA): The Philippines pushed for stronger regional cooperation to advance human rights in South-East Asia at a high-level Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) meeting this week, the Philippines News Agency (PNA) reported.
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened its 42nd Meeting in Manila from Feb 24 to 27, chaired by the Philippine representative to the AICHR, Severo Catura.
During the meeting, Catura reaffirmed Manila’s commitment to lead the AICHR Chairship with "seriousness and purpose, aiming for concrete deliverables,” including strengthening cooperation among states towards the protection of human rights in the region.
He also welcomed Timor-Leste as a full member of AICHR, saying its participation would complete and enrich the commission’s regional development on human rights.
The meeting discussed and agreed upon a development process for a Regional Plan of Action on the ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment.
The commission also followed up on the realisation of the ASEAN Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and the Right to Peace Towards Realising Inclusive and Sustainable Development and related regional consultations planned for 2026.
The 11 ASEAN member states likewise shared information and exchanged views on recent human rights developments in the region and their respective countries, including new laws, national action plans, regulatory and policy frameworks, and human rights-related initiatives.
Initiatives to strengthen collaboration with relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies, such as the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), were identified and further explored.
The meeting also deliberated measures to strengthen stakeholder engagement, including a review of its consultative relationship with accredited civil society organisations.
The AICHR, for its part, expressed its appreciation to AICHR Philippines and the ASEAN Secretariat for facilitating the meeting. -- BERNAMA-PNA
