ASEAN to confer on human rights, economic cooperation, virus

PHUKET, 19 July 2009 (NNT) – ASEAN Foreign Ministers have voiced agreement towards the final draft of the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the ASEAN Human Rights Body after the Meeting with the High Level Panel (HLP) on the ASEAN Human Rights Body and the High Level Legal Experts Group (HLEG) on the ASEAN Charter which took place this afternoon.

In a press conference after the meetings, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya elaborated that the draft ToR would be proposed in the name ‘ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights’. He said the ASEAN Human Rights Body would be tasked to promote and protect human rights in ASEAN, and would be launched at the 15th ASEAN Summit which will take place in October 2009 in Phuket, Thailand.

Mr Kasit stated that national selection of the body could begin right after the meeting if the ToR could be endorsed at the Foreign Minister Retreat. He explained that the body would consist of one representative appointed by each ASEAN member nation, who would be serving a three-year term, adding that they could come from any sector.

In addition, the Minister informed that the ASEAN Foreign Ministers also endorsed the draft agreement on privileges and immunities of ASEAN, which would be in the same manner as that of the United Nations (UN). He said that it was hoped also that the ASEAN Foreign Ministers would be able to sign this draft during the 15th ASEAN Summit.

The ten ASEAN Foreign Ministers are currently meeting in the southern island of Phuket, at the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meetings, Post-Ministerial Conferences and 16th ASEAN Regional Forum from 17-23 July.