By Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia
The Government of Malaysia has appointed Mr Edmund Bon Tai Soon as the new Representative of Malaysia to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) for the term 2016-2018. Mr Edmund Bon succeeds YBhg Tan Sri Dr. Muhammad Shafee Abdullah who had served as the first Representative of Malaysia to the AICHR for two consecutive terms beginning from 2010 until 2015.
Mr Edmund Bon read law at University College of London and holds a Master’s Degree in International Human Rights Law from University of Oxford, United Kingdom. He is presently the Head of Chambers (Civil), practicing under AmerBON, Advocates. Mr Edmund Bon is currently a Member of Bar Council Malaysia. He previously chaired a number of Committees under the flagship of the Bar Council Malaysia such as the Committees of Constitutional Law, National Young Lawyers, and Human Rights.
With vast experience and exposure in high-profile public interest litigation over the past 18 years, the appointment of Mr Edmund Bon is a strong manifestation of the Government of Malaysia’s desire to bring human rights and fundamental freedoms issues at the forefront of ASEAN’s agenda through the AICHR.
The AICHR was established in 2009, under Article 14 of the ASEAN Charter. It is one of the ASEAN organs with a cross-cutting mandate for the promotion and protection of human rights in the region. As an intergovernmental body that reports directly to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers, the AICHR plays a key role in setting the tone for human rights cooperation with other ASEAN Organs, ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, and related external parties.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Putrajaya
Source: https://www.kln.gov.my/web/fji_suva/news-from-mission/-/blogs/press-relase-:-appointment-of-the-representative-of-malaysia-to-asean-intergovernmental-commission-on-human-rights-aichr. Archived at https://perma.cc/4VZU-7Q6B.
