On October 23rd, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) officially inaugurated the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. The Terms of Reference that are the by-laws for the commission can be found at: http://www.aseansec.org/DOC-TOR-AHRB.pdf
Excerpts from the Terms of Reference:
PURPOSES
1.4 To promote human rights within the regional context, bearing in
mind national and regional particularities and mutual respect for
different historical, cultural and religious backgrounds, and taking
into account the balance between rights and responsibilities;
MANDATE AND FUNCTIONS
4.2. To develop an ASEAN Human Rights Declaration with a view to
establishing a framework for human rights cooperation through
various ASEAN conventions and other instruments dealing with
human rights;
MODALITIES
6.8 The AICHR is the overarching human rights institution in ASEAN
with overall responsibility for the promotion and protection of
human rights in ASEAN.
Additional information available atÂ
CHA-AM HUA HIN DECLARATION ON THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS