On 14-16 September 2011, the Department of ASEAN Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs which is in charge of coordinating and facilitating the work of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) for Thailand -- organized the Third Meeting of the Drafting Group on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration at Pullman Bangkok Kingpower. The Meeting was chaired by Ms. Harkristuti Harkrisnowa, Director General of Human Rights Protection, Ministry of Justice and Law of Indonesia. Attended by Dr. Seree Noonthasoot, Thailand’s representative to the Drafting Group as well as the representative from ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat, the Meeting succeeded in drafting the preamble to the declaration. This preamble refers to international human rights instruments and mechanisms, and reaffirms ASEAN’s commitment on the promotion and the protection of human rights for peoples of ASEAN. This is a significant step because it lays down the foundation for the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration in the near future.
The Thai Representative to the Drafting Group had conducted several consultation sessions with government agencies as well as civil society, in order to discuss and develop a Thai approach for the drafting process.
The Drafting Group on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration has responsibilities as defined by its TOR, developed by AICHR, to finalize the first draft of the Declaration and to submit it to AICHR for consideration within six months (the end of 2011).
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th