By ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened its Special Meeting 1/2026 from 18 to 21 July 2026 in Manila, Philippines. The Meeting was preceded by the AICHR Assistants’ Meeting held on 17 July 2026. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Georgina Ann Hernandez Yang, Acting Chair of AICHR, and attended by AICHR Representatives and Alternate Representatives, AICHR Assistants, and officials from the ASEAN Secretariat.
On 20 July 2026, AICHR held the 16th annual interface with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers at the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), where the Chair delivered AICHR’s Statement to the AMM, and submitted its Priority Programmes/Activities for 2027 and Annual Report 2026. The Interface facilitated constructive dialogue between the ASEAN Foreign Ministers, Vice Ministers, and SOM Leaders, and AICHR Representatives and Alternate Representatives, which provided guidance to the Commission on mainstreaming human rights initiatives and addressing contemporary and emerging issues. The AMM reaffirmed its support for AICHR’s efforts in advancing human rights in the region.
On the same day, AICHR also held its 15th annual interface with the Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, where both parties deliberated on priority areas, and exchanged views on cross-pillar synergy and strengthening AICHR’s mandate through the ASEAN Secretariat.
During its Special Meeting 1/2026, AICHR deliberated on the on-going development of the Regional Plan of Action for the ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment and the follow-up activities and actions on the realisation of the ASEAN Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and the Right to Peace Towards Realising Inclusive and Sustainable Development. AICHR is also discussing a proposed ASEAN Declaration on the Right to Mental Health of Children in the Digital Age, to address the profound and accelerating impact of digital technologies and their implications on children’s mental health.
AICHR Representatives/Alternate Representatives reported on priority programmes and activities encompassing a wide array of thematic areas, and provided updates on upcoming activities for the rest of the year, including the fourth consultation on the right to development, AICHR’s first activity in Timor-Leste.
AICHR also discussed developing common approaches on human rights matters of interest, including gender-based violence and CEDAW; poverty eradication and the right to an adequate standard of living; child immigration detention and alternatives to detention; localising human rights for inclusive development and the realisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045; consular assistance and protection for victims of trafficking and forced criminality linked to online scam compounds; advancing human rights and peace; disability inclusion and trafficking in persons; rights-based policing, and advancement of a culture of human rights.
AICHR Representatives/Alternate Representatives likewise reported on recent developments in the promotion and protection of human rights in their respective countries and across the region, including developments in laws and regulatory and policy frameworks, and national initiatives addressing contemporary and emerging human rights challenges.
AICHR also deliberated on institutional matters to support the implementation of its Five-Year Work Plan (2026-2030), including its Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework, increasing substantive and thematic work and strengthening cross-sector and cross-pillar cooperation, as well as raising knowledge and public awareness on human rights through the publication of AICHR Notes and a proposed bulletin on human rights development.
AICHR considered new applications from CSOs for consultative relationship, and agreed to a one-year renewal of the term of the Screening Panel for CSOs with consultative relationship with AICHR. It also discussed external relations and cooperation of AICHR with ASEAN sectoral bodies, external partners, and other stakeholders in advancing the promotion and protection of human rights.
AICHR expressed its appreciation to AICHR Philippines and the ASEAN Secretariat for the excellent meeting arrangements.
Source: https://aichr.org/news/press-release-special-meeting-1-2026-of-the-asean-intergovernmental-commission-on-human-rights-17-21-july-2026-manila-philippines/. Archived at https://perma.cc/8TEZ-CA4U
