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02/07/2009
ASEAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
Dear Friends,
In mid-July, there will be a vital development in ASEAN 's decisions regarding the authority and independence of ASEAN's promised human rights body. ON 16 - 17 July, ASEAN foreign ministers will meet in Thailand, and at that time the High Level Panel members -- representatives for the 10 member states -- will submit the final draft of the Terms of Reference (TOR) for an ASEAN human rights body. The TOR, as currently drafted, utterly fail to provide the essential protection mandate and independence of southeast Asia's first regional human rights body.
AI's recommendations include that the human rights body's TOR: reflect international standards over any national, regional, historical, cultural and religious factors; require the body's members have high standards of expertise and serve in their personal capacity; authorise on-site investigations; conduct periodic country reviews; accept individual complaints; and ensure that all future human rights standards within ASEAN are in full compliance with international standards.
Amnesty International action:
1. AI has written to ASEAN's High Level Panel, expressing concern about the TOR as currently drafted and urging that the TOR meet international human rights standards and are on a par with other regional human rights mechanisms. Please see attached letter for details.
2. Concerned individuals are urged to sign Forum-Asia's online petition, which states that a "mere window dressing body will only further confirm the lack of political will of ASEAN as a regional bloc to protect the rights of peoples in the region". PLEASE SIGN!
Margaret John
Coordinator for Singapore and Malaysia
Amnesty International Canada
07:54 Posted by soci | Permalink | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0) | Email this | Tags: singapore, human rights, asean