OHCHR | UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk welcomed the adoption by ASEAN of a landmark regional declaration on the right to a healthy environment. He urged ASEAN Member States to continue advancing rights-based environmental action in line with the rapidly evolving international norms in this area.
Bernama | Under Malaysia’s leadership, ASEAN member states adopted two historic declarations affirming the right to peace, human rights, and sustainable development, which AICHR Chair Edmund Bon described as “historic”.
Bernama | The Foreign Minister of Malaysia commended AICHR for championing the right to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, as well as for its efforts to strengthen the ASEAN Guideline on the Non-Punishment Principle for victims of human trafficking.
AICHR | One of the key outcomes of the two peace pathways workshops will be to develop a regional framework to contextualise a human-rights-based approach to conflict prevention, conflict management, reconciliation, and peacebuilding in ASEAN, supporting ‘ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future’ for a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centred ASEAN.
Free Malaysia Today | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon said the right to development, as enshrined in the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, must be viewed as both an individual and collective right. Genuine development is inseparable from human rights, and ASEAN member states should embed robust human rights safeguards into all future cooperation and trade frameworks.
Free Malaysia Today | Edmund Bon, Pengerusi AICHR, berkata hak untuk pembangunan, seperti termaktub dalam Deklarasi Hak Asasi Manusia ASEAN, mesti dilihat sebagai hak individu dan juga hak kebersamaan. Pembangunan tulen tidak dapat dipisahkan daripada hak asasi manusia.
FGV Holdings Berhad | FGV Holdings Berhad (FGV) recently welcomed a delegation of around 40 participants from the 6th ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights to its Krau Complex. The visit formed part of the ASEAN-EU Side Event: Dialogue on Intensifying Actions and Overcoming Barriers in Implementing Business and Human Rights and Environment in ASEAN and EU.
The Southeast Asia Desk | The Working Group on Solidarity for Migrant Fishers called for decisive action to end modern slavery and protect migrant fishers’ rights in Southeast Asia’s fishing industry. The coalition of 20 civil society organisations from eight countries warned that forced labour, trafficking, and abuse remain widespread in the region’s billion-dollar fisheries sector.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia | AICHR, led by Malaysia, will convene two workshops to focus on identifying key actors, safe spaces, and effective processes needed for constructive dialogues that build trust and lead to better outcomes in conflict situations.
ASEAN | The policy dialogue facilitated a robust exchange of views on human rights in ASEAN and the EU, as well as on global developments and challenges, with implications on the promotion and protection of human rights.
AICHR | The 6th ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights, co-chaired by AICHR Chair Edmund Bon, marked another milestone in strengthening interregional cooperation on human rights, the rule of law, good governance and democratic values for both regions.
Bernama | The European Union (EU) commended Malaysia’s ASEAN 2025 chairmanship, describing it as tremendous and impressive while also expressing hope to strengthen cooperation with the region by enhancing human rights values within future economic and trade agreements.
BEBESEA | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon attended a workshop conducted by the CSOs Working Group on the Solidarity for Migrant Fishers, which made recommendations to ASEAN and EU and their member states for the improved protection of migrant workers in the fishery sector.
The Edge Malaysia | Edmund Bon explained that unless the principle of “free, prior and informed consent” (FPIC) is actually expressly stated in Malaysian law or the Constitution, indigenous peoples will have a very difficult time implementing that principle against the government. Without FPIC, land conflicts are likely to intensify.
AICHR | Delegates considered the intersection of human rights, drug policy implementation and reform measures in Southeast Asia. It was led by Edmund Bon, AICHR Chair and the Representative of Malaysia to AICHR, and furthers Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN agenda of inclusivity and sustainability.
AICHR | Discussions in this AICHR programme will move beyond predominantly punitive models to examine evidence-based strategies such as community support while considering how criminalisation and legal prohibition affect people who use drugs and their access to essential health services.
Free Malaysia Today | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon said human rights issues were far more difficult to discuss in the past, with certain member states opposed to making the commission’s findings publicly available. There has been significant improvement from this cautious approach, as the countries have grown more confident in addressing such issues over the past decade.
Khmer Times | The Cambodian delegation at AICHR’s 3rd Special Meeting of the year was led by Pa Ponnarada, representing the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC). Among other matters, he raised Cambodia’s concerns regarding Thailand’s recent military incursion into Cambodia, and reiterated Cambodia’s commitment to peaceful resolution.
The Edge Malaysia | Speaking about Malaysia’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAPBHR) 2025-2030, Edmund Bon urged that human rights due diligence (HRDD) be mandated for companies; legal aid be expanded to foreign workers; and anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) and anti-greenwashing laws be introduced.
Free Malaysia Today | The sessions court ordered that RM169 million in cash linked to former PM Ismail Sabri and his ex-political secretary Anuar Yunus be forfeited to the government. The judge granted the MACC’s application as neither Ismail nor Anuar contested the forfeiture. They were represented by lawyers Ragunath Kesavan and Joshua Tay.
OHCHR | UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk welcomed the adoption by ASEAN of a landmark regional declaration on the right to a healthy environment. He urged ASEAN Member States to continue advancing rights-based environmental action in line with the rapidly evolving international norms in this area.
Bernama | Under Malaysia’s leadership, ASEAN member states adopted two historic declarations affirming the right to peace, human rights, and sustainable development, which AICHR Chair Edmund Bon described as “historic”.
Bernama | The Foreign Minister of Malaysia commended AICHR for championing the right to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, as well as for its efforts to strengthen the ASEAN Guideline on the Non-Punishment Principle for victims of human trafficking.
AICHR | One of the key outcomes of the two peace pathways workshops will be to develop a regional framework to contextualise a human-rights-based approach to conflict prevention, conflict management, reconciliation, and peacebuilding in ASEAN, supporting ‘ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future’ for a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centred ASEAN.
Free Malaysia Today | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon said the right to development, as enshrined in the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, must be viewed as both an individual and collective right. Genuine development is inseparable from human rights, and ASEAN member states should embed robust human rights safeguards into all future cooperation and trade frameworks.
Free Malaysia Today | Edmund Bon, Pengerusi AICHR, berkata hak untuk pembangunan, seperti termaktub dalam Deklarasi Hak Asasi Manusia ASEAN, mesti dilihat sebagai hak individu dan juga hak kebersamaan. Pembangunan tulen tidak dapat dipisahkan daripada hak asasi manusia.
FGV Holdings Berhad | FGV Holdings Berhad (FGV) recently welcomed a delegation of around 40 participants from the 6th ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights to its Krau Complex. The visit formed part of the ASEAN-EU Side Event: Dialogue on Intensifying Actions and Overcoming Barriers in Implementing Business and Human Rights and Environment in ASEAN and EU.
The Southeast Asia Desk | The Working Group on Solidarity for Migrant Fishers called for decisive action to end modern slavery and protect migrant fishers’ rights in Southeast Asia’s fishing industry. The coalition of 20 civil society organisations from eight countries warned that forced labour, trafficking, and abuse remain widespread in the region’s billion-dollar fisheries sector.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia | AICHR, led by Malaysia, will convene two workshops to focus on identifying key actors, safe spaces, and effective processes needed for constructive dialogues that build trust and lead to better outcomes in conflict situations.
ASEAN | The policy dialogue facilitated a robust exchange of views on human rights in ASEAN and the EU, as well as on global developments and challenges, with implications on the promotion and protection of human rights.
AICHR | The 6th ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights, co-chaired by AICHR Chair Edmund Bon, marked another milestone in strengthening interregional cooperation on human rights, the rule of law, good governance and democratic values for both regions.
Bernama | The European Union (EU) commended Malaysia’s ASEAN 2025 chairmanship, describing it as tremendous and impressive while also expressing hope to strengthen cooperation with the region by enhancing human rights values within future economic and trade agreements.
BEBESEA | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon attended a workshop conducted by the CSOs Working Group on the Solidarity for Migrant Fishers, which made recommendations to ASEAN and EU and their member states for the improved protection of migrant workers in the fishery sector.
The Edge Malaysia | Edmund Bon explained that unless the principle of “free, prior and informed consent” (FPIC) is actually expressly stated in Malaysian law or the Constitution, indigenous peoples will have a very difficult time implementing that principle against the government. Without FPIC, land conflicts are likely to intensify.
AICHR | Delegates considered the intersection of human rights, drug policy implementation and reform measures in Southeast Asia. It was led by Edmund Bon, AICHR Chair and the Representative of Malaysia to AICHR, and furthers Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN agenda of inclusivity and sustainability.
AICHR | Discussions in this AICHR programme will move beyond predominantly punitive models to examine evidence-based strategies such as community support while considering how criminalisation and legal prohibition affect people who use drugs and their access to essential health services.
Free Malaysia Today | AICHR Chair Edmund Bon said human rights issues were far more difficult to discuss in the past, with certain member states opposed to making the commission’s findings publicly available. There has been significant improvement from this cautious approach, as the countries have grown more confident in addressing such issues over the past decade.
Khmer Times | The Cambodian delegation at AICHR’s 3rd Special Meeting of the year was led by Pa Ponnarada, representing the Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC). Among other matters, he raised Cambodia’s concerns regarding Thailand’s recent military incursion into Cambodia, and reiterated Cambodia’s commitment to peaceful resolution.
The Edge Malaysia | Speaking about Malaysia’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAPBHR) 2025-2030, Edmund Bon urged that human rights due diligence (HRDD) be mandated for companies; legal aid be expanded to foreign workers; and anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) and anti-greenwashing laws be introduced.
Free Malaysia Today | The sessions court ordered that RM169 million in cash linked to former PM Ismail Sabri and his ex-political secretary Anuar Yunus be forfeited to the government. The judge granted the MACC’s application as neither Ismail nor Anuar contested the forfeiture. They were represented by lawyers Ragunath Kesavan and Joshua Tay.
