VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) - The Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights will meet in Vientiane to discuss the implementation of AICHR priority programmes 2015-2016, and the action plan for the next five years.
The Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) is convening its 20th meeting in Vientiane to discuss the implementation of AICHR priority programmes 2015-2016, and the action plan for the next five years.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’s Department of Treaties and Law Director General Phoukhong Siluanglath, who is the representative of Laos and the current chair of AICHR, is chairing the meeting, which continues today.
At the meeting, the representatives and delegates from Asean member states and the Asean Secretariat discussed various topics concerning the work of AICHR, including the implementation of the AICHR Priority Programmes 2015-2016.
The priority programmes of AICHR is an initiative of Asean members, especially about regional seminars on human rights, thematic studies on the right to education, the right to life, child justice, human rights and anti-human trafficking in Asean.
It also focuses on the social responsibilities of businesses and the media.
The meeting has discussed the preparation for submission of the annual report of AICHR 2016 and AICHR Priority Programmes 2017 to the Asean Foreign Ministers in July.
Furthermore, the participants have discussed the Five-Year Work Plan from now to 2020, which aims to realise the aspirations of the people of Asean on human rights, strengthening the AICHR, promoting, and protecting human rights in Asean, and enhancing cooperation with external partners as well as implementing AICHR’s overarching mandate on human rights.
The AICHR was established in 2009 in accordance with the Asean Charter. Asean members appoint their representatives to the commission for a three-year term, who may be reappointed for another three year consecutive term.
Back to back with the meeting, the AICHR organised a workshop on Wednesday on Transitions between AICHR Representatives 2013-2015 and the Representatives 2016-2018 with a view to ensuring a smooth transition and the continuity of AICHR.
External relations such as the Asean-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights and engagement with stakeholders were also discussed at the meeting.