ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights

Description

The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, known as AICHR, is a human rights body of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It was inaugurated on 23 October 2009 at the 15th ASEAN Summit in Cha-Am Hua Hin, Thailand. The commission works across the member states of ASEAN in Southeast Asia.

AICHR is designed as the overarching institution with overall responsibility for the promotion and protection of human rights in ASEAN. Its members, called Representatives, are nominated by their own national governments, one per member state. Decisions are made by consultation and consensus among the members. The commission reports to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and holds two regular meetings a year, with further meetings when needed.

AICHR’s work follows a Terms of Reference setting out fourteen mandates on the promotion and protection of human rights. It sets its priorities through five-year work plans, with yearly programmes drawn from them. In November 2012 it adopted the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, a regional framework for cooperation on human rights. It has also adopted guidelines governing its relations with civil society organisations.