MALAYSIA TO SPEARHEAD ASEAN HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA THROUGH TWO STRATEGIC CONSULTATIONS ON ADVANCING THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT AND FORMULATING A HUMAN RIGHTS WORK PLAN TO PROMOTE[...]

MALAYSIA TO SPEARHEAD ASEAN HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA THROUGH TWO STRATEGIC CONSULTATIONS ON ADVANCING THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT AND FORMULATING A HUMAN RIGHTS WORK PLAN TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE REGION 28 - 29 APRIL 2025

Malaysia, through the leadership of the current Chair of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and Representative of Malaysia to the AICHR Edmund Bon Tai Soon,will host two pivotal regional consultations on human rights.

The first consultation, the 2nd AICHR Consultation on the Human Right to Development to Enhance the ASEAN Community: Realising Article 35 of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration 2012, will take place on 28 April 2025. This will be followed on 29 April 2025 by the AICHR Regional Consultation to Support the Development of the AICHR Five-Year Work Plan (2026-2030), in alignment with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the Strategic Plans of Action.

These consultations are part of Malaysia's initiatives in leadership of ASEAN this year and underscore AICHR's commitment to shaping a people-centred, people-oriented and forward-looking human rights agenda.

Under the theme of "Inclusivity and Sustainability", the right to development is reaffirmed as a fundamental human right ensuring every person in ASEAN can actively participate in, contribute to, and benefit from sustainable economic, social, cultural, and political progress. Development must meet the needs of both present and future generations without compromising human rights.

Building on this, AICHR continues in its ASEAN community-building efforts to advance inclusive, sustainable and gender-responsive programmes aimed at reducing poverty, protecting human and environmental rights, and narrowing development gaps across the region.

Central to the consultations will be further deliberations on Malaysia's proposal for an ASEAN Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and Peace Towards Realising Inclusive and Sustainable Development, reflecting an ASEAN-led, ASEAN-owned, whole-of-ASEAN approach to advancing human rights.

Thematic discussions will feature the intersection of human rights, peace, and the right to development, with delegates formulating strategies to enhance the protection of the right to development in all of its economic, social, cultural, and political dimensions.

These consultations will also contribute valuable insights into the on-going development of AICHR's Five Year Work Plan, with a focus on strengthening human rights protection and deepening engagement with stakeholders across ASEAN.

Key interventions will be delivered by Undersecretary (Special Functions), High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Community's Post-2025 Vision Dato' Suhaimi Jaafar, and United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development Surya Deva.

Delegates attending include representatives from AICHR, ASEAN sectoral bodies, and civil society organisations, and human rights experts.

These efforts reflect Malaysia's enduring commitment to expediting ASEAN's human rights agenda and supporting the ASEAN vision for a peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable future.

PUTRAJAYA

27 April 2025