Special Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) 4/2025 Melaka, Malaysia

The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened its Special Meeting 4/2025 from 10 to 14 November 2025 in Melaka, Malaysia. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Edmund Bon Tai Soon, the Chair and Representative of Malaysia to AICHR, and attended by Representatives and Alternate Representatives of AICHR and the ASEAN Secretariat.

AICHR warmly welcomed Timor-Leste as a full member of the Commission following its admission to ASEAN at the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

AICHR expressed its deepest condolences to the people of Thailand on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand. It also extended thoughts and prayers to the people of the Philippines and Viet Nam and those who have been impacted by the recent typhoons Kalmaegi and Fung-Wong.

AICHR also welcomed the adoption of two ASEAN human rights instruments at the 47th ASEAN Summit, namely the ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment and the ASEAN Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and the Right to Peace Towards Realising Inclusive and Sustainable Development. The Meeting discussed next steps for the two declarations, as guided by the Chairman's Statement of the 47th ASEAN Summit, to develop an inclusive and sustainable Regional Plan of Action and on follow-up actions to realise the declarations respectively.

AICHR Representatives/Alternate Representatives continued to review the "ASEAN Secretariat Information Paper on the Work of AICHR (2010-2024)" focusing on the following areas: strengthening institutional effectiveness; work processes and capacity; enhancing cross-sectoral and cross-pillar cooperation and collaboration; addressing emerging human rights challenges and threats; and engagement and outreach. Possibilities and future direction were also explored.

AICHR discussed institutional matters, including the implementation of the AICHR Terms of Reference, to uphold the integrity of and principles that underpin the Commission.

AICHR further adopted the AICHR Operational Guidelines on External Communications Received and the AICHR Note on Responsible Business and Migration in ASEAN.

The Meeting discussed possible follow-up on the 6th ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights, as well as preparations for the 7th ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue and the Commemoration of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) and the Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of the AHRD.

AICHR Representatives/Alternate Representatives of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam 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 initiatives related to the promotion and protection of human rights, such as providing inclusive mental-health services, amendments to national human rights law, incorporation of human rights priorities as part of national development plans, enhancing capacity and effectiveness of national human rights institutions, concerns for human rights situations and border conflicts within the region, participatory governance, combatting sexual violence, trafficking in persons, transnational cybercrimes, telecommunications fraud, and online scams, signing of international human rights instruments, preparations for free and fair elections, provision of inclusive space for persons with disabilities, local peacekeeping work, participatory environmental governance, strengthening labour protection, strengthening commitments on multiracialism and religious diversity, rights based-national budgeting, social protection for gig workers, workplace fairness, and the death penalty.

Reflecting on its ongoing work, AICHR discussed progress and upcoming implementation of its Priority Programmes and Activities covering a wide range of thematic areas, including children's rights, rights of persons with disabilities, business and human rights, human rights and the environment, human rights and peace, freedom of opinion and expression, right to health, and economic, social and cultural rights, right to development.

During this Meeting, AICHR held its second interface meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, H.E. Volker Türk, and shared their respective work on promoting and protecting human rights and discussed human rights concerns in a constructive manner, including on transnational crimes, inequalities, business and human rights, climate change, digital rights, and online safety for women and girls, among others.

AICHR also held the first interface meeting with the Asia Dialogue on Forced Migration (ADFM) and shared information on human rights priorities and discussed possible cooperation.

The Meeting continued deliberations on applications from CSOs for a Consultative Relationship with AICHR.

AICHR Representatives/Alternate Representatives discussed cooperation between AICHR and ASEAN sectoral bodies and partners, including with the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) on gender-responsive treatment of women offenders and women prisoners, and on ending gender-based workplace exploitation. It also noted participation of AICHR Representatives on various activities with relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies on issues related to migrant workers, trafficking in persons, the care economy, disaster management, climate change, women, peace and security, disability inclusion, and the protection of children in the context of migration.

The Meeting concluded with the handover of the AICHR Chairship from Malaysia to the Philippines for 2026. AICHR expressed its appreciation to H.E. Edmund Bon Tai Soon for his leadership as AICHR Chair in 2025 and welcomed the Philippines as the incoming AICHR Chair in 2026. The Commission further expressed appreciation to Malaysia and the ASEAN Secretariat for arranging and supporting the convening of this meeting.