DILI, 28 february 2024 (TATOLI) – The Deputy Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ), Rigoberto Monteiro, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MoFAC) needs to appoint a representative to attend the regular meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR).
AICHR has two regular meetings in a year and additional meetings if and when necessary.
Monteiro said that attending the meeting would help Timor-Leste understand the mandates and functions of the AICHR in preparation for Timor-Leste’s full membership of ASEAN, which is expected to occur in 2025.
“Our participation in the regular AICHR meeting is necessary for us to gain enough experience to be able to host AICHR meetings in the future,” said Monteiro.
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) was inaugurated in october 2009 as a consultative body of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). On 23 october 2009, the ten AICHR Representatives, one from each Member State, were appointed and AICHR was officially inaugurated at the 15th ASEAN Summit in Cha-am Hua Hin, Thailand.
The human rights commission exists to promote and protect human rights, and regional cooperation on human rights in the ASEAN member states.
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) convened the 38th Meeting of AICHR from 20 to 23 February 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Meeting was chaired by Ambassador Yong Chanthalangsy, Representative of Lao PDR to AICHR, and was attended by Representatives/Alternate Representatives of AICHR, and the ASEAN Secretariat. Timor-Leste attended the Meeting as Observer.
Each Representative of AICHR is appointed by his/her respective government for a term of three years, renewable once. AICHR representatives, in the discharge of his or her duties, shall act impartially in accordance with the ASEAN Charter and the TOR of AICHR.
AICHR as the overarching institution in ASEAN on human rights shall work with other ASEAN bodies dealing with human rights to align with AICHR as well as other ASEAN bodies on common areas of interest. Through its cooperation with other ASEAN bodies and with external partners, AICHR will develop regional cooperation on human rights.
Journalist: José Belarimno De Sá
Editor: Filomeno Martins
