By ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened the AICHR Consultation on Human Rights Index 2026 in Tangerang, Indonesia. The consultation brought together AICHR Representatives, ASEAN Member States, national human rights institutions, international organisations, academia, think tanks, civil society organisations, and regional experts to discuss the possible development of an ASEAN Human Rights Index. The activity forms part of AICHR’s Priority Programme 2026 under its Five-Year Work Plan (2026–2030).
In her opening remarks, Anita Ashvini Wahid, Representative of Indonesia to AICHR, emphasised that the consultation builds on the 2024 dialogue by exploring practical and technically sound options for an ASEAN-owned human rights measurement mechanism that is useful, credible, and responsive to the region’s diversity, and grounded in the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration and applicable international human rights standards.
Speaking on behalf of the Chair of AICHR, Bolivar Bao, Alternate Representative of the Philippines to AICHR, highlighted that the initiative supports the implementation of the AICHR Five-Year Work Plan (2026–2030) and ASEAN Community Vision 2045, while reaffirming that the proposed mechanism should strengthen regional cooperation and policy development rather than serve as a ranking exercise.
Representing the Australian Human Rights Commission, Carla Silbert reaffirmed Australia’s support for the initiative and welcomed the consultation as an opportunity to advance discussions towards practical approaches for strengthening evidence-based human rights implementation across ASEAN.
Building on the first consultation held in 2024, the 2026 consultation advanced the discussion from the broad rationale for regional human rights measurement towards the practical questions involved in designing a credible, useful and regionally appropriate mechanism. Discussions emphasised that any future ASEAN Human Rights Index should strengthen evidence-based decision-making, identify implementation gaps, promote policy coherence across ASEAN sectoral bodies, facilitate peer learning, and reinforce ASEAN’s ownership of its human rights agenda. Participants noted that the terms “Index” remains a working title and that the mechanism’s final form should be determined through further consultation.
During the consultation, participants exchanged views on possible methodological approaches and institutional arrangements for the initiative. Discussions highlighted several essential dimensions requiring further examination, including the mechanism’s purpose and intended users; the selection of indicators and measurement methods; the availability and quality of evidence; institutional and governance arrangements; and how findings could inform policy action and the possible pathways with respect for ASEAN’s principles of consultation, consensus, non-confrontation and ownership. Participants also underscored the need to build upon existing ASEAN monitoring mechanisms and national data systems to enhance policy relevance and avoid duplication.
Participants also recognised that the development of an ASEAN Human Rights Index should proceed through a phased approach. As a practical way forward, the consultation recommended clarifying the mechanism’s purpose, mapping existing regional and national data sources, undertaking a thematic pilot, and reviewing its usefulness before considering wider implementation.
The outcomes of the consultation will inform AICHR’s future deliberations on the possible development of an ASEAN Human Rights Index and contribute to strengthening ASEAN’s collective efforts to promote and protect human rights through dialogue, technical cooperation, and regionally owned solutions consistent with the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration and the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Source: https://aichr.org/news/aichr-advances-technical-discussions-on-the-asean-human-rights-index/ and https://asean.org/aichr-advances-technical-discussions-on-the-asean-human-rights-index/. Archived at https://perma.cc/TEC5-WD3B and https://perma.cc/4QXT-U4NL
