His Excellency Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia and Chair of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM),

Excellencies, Foreign Ministers of ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste.

Thank you for allowing me to take the floor again, this time speaking as the Representative of Malaysia to AICHR. 

I associate myself with the AICHR Chair’s statement I just delivered on behalf of AICHR. With respect, I wish to offer five further reflections as to what lies ahead for the Commission.

First, supporting the forward-looking ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future vision for ASEAN mechanisms to be more decisive, responsive and future-ready in addressing challenges, ASEAN processes need to be refreshed. This year, AICHR has enhanced its capacity, reinforced its modalities and strengthened its institutional framework to ensure that the Commission continues to remain relevant, credible and effective. 

Second, I shared last year at the 14th Interface that the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration 2012 (AHRD) remains underdeveloped. This year, AICHR has advanced the ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment and ASEAN Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and Peace Towards Realising Inclusive and Sustainable Development. Both these declarations, if adopted, will provide the human rights guidance to complement the AHRD following an ASEAN-led, ASEAN-owned, whole-of-ASEAN approach. I humbly seek AMM’s support for the declarations.

Third, escalating tensions and continuing violent conflicts both inside and outside of ASEAN are most disconcerting. Some situations — like Myanmar, Gaza and Ukraine, to name a few — are more visible than others but they all remind us of the need to respect human rights and international law while taking proactive action to address them. This year, AICHR has embarked on work to develop pathways to peace. I respectfully invite AMM to consider empowering AICHR to examine relevant matters concerning human rights and common approaches to peace in ASEAN.

Fourth, since 2010, AICHR received 131 communications, out of which 53 were received from 2022 to date. In November 2019, AICHR adopted a formal mechanism to receive grievances, and AICHR and its Representatives have been responding as appropriate. The issues cover a range of areas such as on violations of the rights of people in vulnerable and marginalised situations, civic space and human rights defenders. These matters will only grow in complexity and urgency. In this light, it is imperative that ASEAN considers how AICHR can play its part to support ASEAN Community-building.

Fifth, given that it is going to be 13 years from the time the AHRD was adopted on 18 November 2012, it is an opportune time for ASEAN to declare and commemorate its “ASEAN Human Rights Day” on 18 November every year. To document ASEAN’s achievements and progress on human rights, an ASEAN Human Rights Report can also be published for public dissemination and awareness.

AICHR has many strengths. It is well-placed to meaningfully contribute to ASEAN if there is a genuine and sincere belief in human rights. I remain optimistic that AICHR can — as it should — be a beacon of hope and principled leadership. 

I extend my appreciation to my friends, the AICHR Representatives, for their cooperation and support at the Commission, and I continue to remain guided by the AMM on ways the Commission can strengthen its role as the overarching human rights body of ASEAN. 

Thank you.

This statement was delivered at the 15th AMM-AICHR Interface Meeting on 8 July 2025 during the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The press release can be accessed here. The statement by Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Foreign Minister of Malaysia, can be accessed here. More information is available here, and more photos can be viewed here.