Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs participated in ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Interface with ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Representatives via video conference, reassuring Thailand's support to AICHR work in promotion and protection of human rights, especially in business and the review of the Terms of Reference of the AICHR to better respond to the evolving human rights situations.

 

On 10 September 2020, H.E. Mr. Vijavat Isarabhakdi, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs participated in ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Interface with AICHR Representatives on the sideline of the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings via videoconference. 

 

The Meeting took note of the report of AICHR activities in the past year, including the issuance of the Press Release on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and engagement with civil society organisations, external partners and regional stakeholders. The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted the importance of supporting the good work of AICHR, especially in business and human rights in mitigating socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Vice Minister also lent support to the proposed review of the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the AICHR to enable AICHR to better respond to the evolving human rights situations and informed the Meeting of Thailand’s appointment of Professor Emeritus Vitit Muntarbhorn from the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University as Thai Representative to the Panel of Experts to discuss the matter.

 

The Meeting also took note of the approval of the Five-Year Work Plan of the AICHR 2021-2025 and the Priority Programmes/ Activities of the AICHR 2021 which will guide the operation and activities of AICHR across the three pillars of the ASEAN Community.