ASEAN nears establishing human rights body

PHUKET Thailand, July 18 – Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to adopt a key document on setting up a regional human rights body, ASEAN sources said Saturday.

In one of its long-awaited moves, the foreign ministers will adopt Monday Terms of Reference (ToR) for the ASEAN Human Rights Body, clearing the way for its formal establishment at the 15th ASEAN Summit in October 2009, reports China's Xinhua news agency.

The ToR was drafted as part of implementing Article 14 of the ASEAN Charter which came into effect in December 2008.

"In conforming with purposes and principles of the ASEAN Charter relating to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, ASEAN shall establish an ASEAN human rights body," reads the ASEAN Charter.

Founded in 1967, ASEAN was aimed at accelerating economic growth and social progress as well as promoting cultural development in Southeast Asia.

Human rights was always a sensitive issue within the bloc due to cultural and political differences among its member-countries.

ASEAN has long adapted the policy of non-interference in activities of its member-nations.

Recent changes to ASEAN's charter now require member-nations to govern according to certain principles including promoting the rule of law, human rights protection and social justice.

In an interview with Xinhua news agency, Vitavas Srivihok who's Director-General of the ASEAN Affairs Department at the Thai Foreign Ministry said the main principle adopted during the ToR's drafting is that of being credible in terms of having a balance on promoting and protecting the human rights body.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (PNA/Bernama)

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