By Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia

Led by H.E. Edmund Bon Tai Soon, the current Chair of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and Representative of Malaysia to the AICHR, Malaysia will host two pivotal regional consultations on human rights as follows: 

▪    On 28 April: 2nd AICHR Consultation on the Human Right to Development to Enhance the ASEAN Community: Realising Article 35 of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration 2012. 

▪    On 29 April: AICHR Regional Consultation to Support the Development of the AICHR Five-Year Work Plan (2026–2030) in line with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and Strategic Plans of Action. 

These consultations are part of Malaysia’s initiatives in leadership of ASEAN this year and underscore AICHR’s commitment to shaping a people-centred, people-oriented and forward-looking human rights agenda.

Under the theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, the right to development is reaffirmed as a fundamental human right ensuring every person in ASEAN can actively participate in, contribute to, and benefit from sustainable economic, social, cultural, and political progress. Development must meet the needs of both present and future generations without compromising human rights.

Building on this, AICHR continues in its ASEAN community-building efforts to advance inclusive, sustainable and gender-responsive programmes aimed at reducing poverty, protecting human and environmental rights, and narrowing development gaps across the region. 

Central to the consultations will be further deliberations on Malaysia’s proposal for an ASEAN Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and Peace Towards Realising Inclusive and Sustainable Development, reflecting an ASEAN-led, ASEAN owned, whole-of-ASEAN approach to advancing human rights.

Thematic discussions will feature the intersection of human rights, peace, and the right to development, with delegates formulating strategies to enhance the protection of the right to development in all of its economic, social, cultural, and political dimensions. 

These consultations will also contribute valuable insights into the on-going development of AICHR’s Five-Year Work Plan, with a focus on strengthening human rights protection and deepening engagement with stakeholders across ASEAN.

Key interventions will be delivered by YBhg. Dato’ Suhaimi Jaafar, Undersecretary (Special Functions), High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision and Surya Deva, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development.

Delegates attending include representatives from AICHR, ASEAN sectoral bodies, and civil society organisations; and human rights experts.

These efforts reflect Malaysia’s enduring commitment to expediting ASEAN’s human rights agenda and supporting the ASEAN vision for a peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable future.

Putrajaya
27 April 2025

Source: https://www.kln.gov.my/web/guest/-/malaysia-to-spearhead-asean-human-rights-agenda-through-two-strategic-consultations-on-advancing-the-right-to-development-and-formulating-a-human-righ. Archived at https://perma.cc/S3QK-KR2F

This press release is also available here in English.

Versi Bahasa Malaysia siaran akhbar ini boleh didapati di sini.