Malaysia leads ASEAN push on business and human rights through gender lens

The Vibes | AICHR is convening a two-day regional workshop focused on developing a gender lens framework to address gender-based challenges, structural and cultural discrimination, and to enhance the protection of the rights of women and girls. The workshop was led by Edmund Bon Tai Soon, Malaysia’s Representative to AICHR and Chair of AICHR for 2025.

Malaysia leads ASEAN workshop on gender equality, empowerment

The Malaysian Reserve | The two-day Regional Workshop on Gender Lens Perspective on Business and Human Rights, hosted by Malaysia, focuses on how a regional gender lens framework can help address gender-based barriers, combat structural and cultural discrimination, and improve the rights of women and girls.

SUHAKAM calls for ASEAN legal framework to tackle gender discrimination in business

Bernama | ASEAN must work towards a cohesive and enforceable legal framework to eliminate gender-based discrimination in the business sector, said SUHAKAM Vice-Chairperson Tengku Mohamed Fauzi Tengku Abdul Hamid. He said that the region still lacks binding legislation and institutional accountability to effectively address gender-related harms in business environments.

ASEAN urged to infuse gender lens in human rights agenda

The Star | Malaysia’s Representative to AICHR Edmund Bon emphasised that gender discrimination in business settings remains both a cause and a consequence of broader inequality, particularly for women and girls, and should be recognised as a form of violence. He said structural and cultural discrimination is also a form of violence, and needs to be localised.

Malaysia To Lead ASEAN Human Rights And Gender Equality Meet

Business Today | The regional workshop will explore a gender lens framework to tackle discrimination, enhance protection of women and girls’ rights, and implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. It will also address barriers in accessing remedies, contributing to ASEAN’s inclusive and sustainable development goals under ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

16th Interface Meeting between the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), 16 May 2025, ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat

AICHR | The meeting encouraged a long-term programmatic perspective that allows AICHR to be responsive, relevant, agile, innovative, decisive and future-ready in addressing global and regional human rights challenges in accordance with the ASEAN Vision 2045 and ASEAN principles of consensus, unity, and Centrality.

Court to hear Muhyiddin’s reference bid on Aug 28

Free Malaysia Today | The High Court will hear Muhyiddin Yassin’s bid to refer legal questions to the apex court on the validity of certain provisions under the Sedition Act on Aug 28. The court was told that the defence and prosecution had agreed on the date. Lawyers Joshua Tay and Lee Yee Woei appeared for Muhyiddin.

Top 5 at 5: Can a Prime Minister claim legal immunity?

BFM | Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim has filed an application with the High Court to refer eight constitutional questions to the Federal Court regarding his entitlement to immunity in a civil suit filed against him by Yusoff Rawther, alleging sexual assault. New Sin Yew addressed what this unprecedented bid means for our legal system and the broader implications for public office holders.

Joint press release: The 1st Interface Meeting between the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and Republic of Korea, 16 May 2025, ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat

AICHR | During their inaugural Interface Meeting, AICHR and the Republic of Korea discussed business and human rights, access to justice, new and emerging digital technologies, rights to health, persons with disabilities, environment and climate change, and strengthening human rights mechanisms.

Joint press release: The 2nd Interface Meeting between the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and Child Rights Coalition Asia (including children and youth and representatives of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC)), 15 May 2025, ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat

AICHR | The meeting featured an open dialogue and interactive engagement on children’s rights, focusing on issues relating to the development of the 2nd ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence against Children.

Joint press release: The 8th Interface Meeting between the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (WGAHRM), 14 May 2025, ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat

AICHR | Several issues were discussed, including the rights of migrant workers, women and children, and persons with disabilities; the right to development; business and human rights; transnational organised crimes; digital rights; human rights and the environment; and economic inequalities.

Press release: 41st Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights

AICHR | AICHR’s 41st Meeting progressed and enhanced AICHR’s work by, among others, refining thematic focus areas, strengthening partnership and cross-pillar coordination, and engaging in strategic planning towards advancing human rights cooperation in the region. It was chaired by Edmund Bon, Chair of AICHR in 2025 and Representative of Malaysia to AICHR.

Malaysia leads ASEAN push on business and human rights through gender lens

The Vibes | AICHR is convening a two-day regional workshop focused on developing a gender lens framework to address gender-based challenges, structural and cultural discrimination, and to enhance the protection of the rights of women and girls. The workshop was led by Edmund Bon Tai Soon, Malaysia’s Representative to AICHR and Chair of AICHR for 2025.

Malaysia leads ASEAN workshop on gender equality, empowerment

The Malaysian Reserve | The two-day Regional Workshop on Gender Lens Perspective on Business and Human Rights, hosted by Malaysia, focuses on how a regional gender lens framework can help address gender-based barriers, combat structural and cultural discrimination, and improve the rights of women and girls.

SUHAKAM calls for ASEAN legal framework to tackle gender discrimination in business

Bernama | ASEAN must work towards a cohesive and enforceable legal framework to eliminate gender-based discrimination in the business sector, said SUHAKAM Vice-Chairperson Tengku Mohamed Fauzi Tengku Abdul Hamid. He said that the region still lacks binding legislation and institutional accountability to effectively address gender-related harms in business environments.

ASEAN urged to infuse gender lens in human rights agenda

The Star | Malaysia’s Representative to AICHR Edmund Bon emphasised that gender discrimination in business settings remains both a cause and a consequence of broader inequality, particularly for women and girls, and should be recognised as a form of violence. He said structural and cultural discrimination is also a form of violence, and needs to be localised.

Malaysia To Lead ASEAN Human Rights And Gender Equality Meet

Business Today | The regional workshop will explore a gender lens framework to tackle discrimination, enhance protection of women and girls’ rights, and implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. It will also address barriers in accessing remedies, contributing to ASEAN’s inclusive and sustainable development goals under ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

16th Interface Meeting between the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), 16 May 2025, ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat

AICHR | The meeting encouraged a long-term programmatic perspective that allows AICHR to be responsive, relevant, agile, innovative, decisive and future-ready in addressing global and regional human rights challenges in accordance with the ASEAN Vision 2045 and ASEAN principles of consensus, unity, and Centrality.

Court to hear Muhyiddin’s reference bid on Aug 28

Free Malaysia Today | The High Court will hear Muhyiddin Yassin’s bid to refer legal questions to the apex court on the validity of certain provisions under the Sedition Act on Aug 28. The court was told that the defence and prosecution had agreed on the date. Lawyers Joshua Tay and Lee Yee Woei appeared for Muhyiddin.

Top 5 at 5: Can a Prime Minister claim legal immunity?

BFM | Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim has filed an application with the High Court to refer eight constitutional questions to the Federal Court regarding his entitlement to immunity in a civil suit filed against him by Yusoff Rawther, alleging sexual assault. New Sin Yew addressed what this unprecedented bid means for our legal system and the broader implications for public office holders.

Joint press release: The 1st Interface Meeting between the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and Republic of Korea, 16 May 2025, ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat

AICHR | During their inaugural Interface Meeting, AICHR and the Republic of Korea discussed business and human rights, access to justice, new and emerging digital technologies, rights to health, persons with disabilities, environment and climate change, and strengthening human rights mechanisms.

Joint press release: The 2nd Interface Meeting between the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and Child Rights Coalition Asia (including children and youth and representatives of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC)), 15 May 2025, ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat

AICHR | The meeting featured an open dialogue and interactive engagement on children’s rights, focusing on issues relating to the development of the 2nd ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence against Children.

Joint press release: The 8th Interface Meeting between the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (WGAHRM), 14 May 2025, ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat

AICHR | Several issues were discussed, including the rights of migrant workers, women and children, and persons with disabilities; the right to development; business and human rights; transnational organised crimes; digital rights; human rights and the environment; and economic inequalities.

Press release: 41st Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights

AICHR | AICHR’s 41st Meeting progressed and enhanced AICHR’s work by, among others, refining thematic focus areas, strengthening partnership and cross-pillar coordination, and engaging in strategic planning towards advancing human rights cooperation in the region. It was chaired by Edmund Bon, Chair of AICHR in 2025 and Representative of Malaysia to AICHR.