No.188/2557

Permanent Secretary met with representatives of civil society organizations to discuss the review of TOR of ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)

            On 30 June 2014, Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, met and discussed with representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) on the work of ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the review of  AICHR’s Terms of Reference (TOR). Detail as follows:

            The Permanent Secretary reiterated the importance of AICHR as the key mechanism of ASEAN in the promotion and protection of human rights in ASEAN. He reminded that Thailand had played a significant role in establishing the AICHR in 2008 as well as its full support to the work of Thailand’s representatives to the AICHR, such as the “AICHR Advanced Training on Human Rights: Training of the Trainers” held in November 2013, and the AICHR Workshop on sharing best practices on implementation of the treaties on human rights in which all ASEAN member states are parties.

            In 2014, the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the AICHR is due to be reviewed. This review is to ensure AICHR remains a balanced and practical human rights mechanism for promoting and protecting human rights in the region. The Permanent Secretary underscored Thai Government’s support to the constructive and close engagement between Thailand’s representative to AICHR and the CSOs. Such engagement is aimed to enhance transparency of AICHR and to ensure that ASEAN community will be a people-centered community. The recent “Bangkok Regional Consultation to the Contribution to the Review of the AICHR’s TOR” held on 27 -28 June 2014 in Bangkok, truly reflected Thailand’s standpoint on engagement of CSOs with AICHR’s. AICHR is also scheduled to meet with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers on 8 August 2014 to discuss about revision of its TOR.

            Thailand also initiated the Interfaith Dialogue between ASEAN’s leaders and civil society organizations during its ASEAN’s chairmanship in 2009. The forum provided an opportunity for CSOs to engage with ASEAN’s leaders on ASEAN community-building. Now, the AICHR is working on the draft “Guidelines on the AICHR’s Relations with Civil Society Organizations” proposed by Dr. Sriprapha Phetcharamesree, the first representative of Thailand to AICHR into consideration.

            The Permanent Secretary stressed the need for ASEAN and AICHR to focus on combatting human trafficking and transnational issues, including foreign migrant labor since the realization of the ASEAN Community is approaching.

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                                                                                      30 June 2014