Penang, Malaysia, April 8–10, 2025 – The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened its Special Meeting 1/2025 in Penang, Malaysia, from April 8 to 10. The meeting was chaired by Malaysia’s Representative, Edmund Bon Tai Soon, and brought together AICHR Representatives and Alternate Representatives. Timor-Leste participated as an observer, along with officials from the ASEAN Secretariat.
The Timor-Leste delegation was led by Rigoberto Monteiro, Deputy Ombudsman for Good Governance, and included Sidonio Martins, National Director for ASEAN Political-Security Affairs; Elvio Soriano, Chief of the Department for Human Rights and Citizens at the Ministry of Justice; and Olga Vilanova Sequeira, Public Relations and Institutional Coordination Specialist.
The meeting commenced with an interface consultation between AICHR and the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN), during which both parties engaged in an open and constructive dialogue on the proposed ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment. AICHR reached consensus on the draft declaration during the meeting.
The Commission also continued its discussions on the formulation of its Five-Year Work Plan for 2026–2030. Delegates reviewed the findings of the final assessment of the current 2021–2025 Work Plan and discussed priority programs and the 2025 Annual Report, both of which will be submitted to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in July.
In addition, AICHR finalized the text of another significant document: the proposed ASEAN Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and Peace, aimed at supporting inclusive and sustainable growth in the region.
The meeting addressed progress in AICHR’s key priority areas, including child and disability rights, youth engagement, mental health in the digital era, corporate responsibility for human rights, environmental rights, the right to development, peace initiatives, and efforts to combat human trafficking.
Institutional matters were also discussed, including communications received and strategies to strengthen collaboration with other ASEAN bodies. AICHR deliberated on plans for a self-assessment of its work since its inception in 2009 and explored future areas of regional human rights cooperation.
Participants exchanged views on urgent regional issues such as online scams, trafficking in persons, transnational crime, the death penalty, gender equality, and engagement with the United Nations and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. The Commission expressed deep condolences to the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand on March 28, and echoed recent ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ statements calling for unimpeded humanitarian assistance in Myanmar and the adoption of a human rights-based approach to emergency response.
On April 10, AICHR held an interactive dialogue with civil society organization Pusat KOMAS, which holds consultative status with the Commission.
The meeting concluded with expressions of appreciation to the Government of Malaysia and the ASEAN Secretariat for their support and excellent logistical arrangements.
As an observer, Timor-Leste was also given the opportunity to deliver remarks. The Deputy Ombudsman for Good Governance expressed Timor-Leste’s gratitude to the Chair and AICHR for the continued opportunity to participate in AICHR meetings and expressed interest in contributing to the development of the Five-Year Work Plan at the next meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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