Human rights in ASEAN-setting sail or treading water?

Human Rights Law Review

Volumn 10, Issue 3, 2010, Pages 504-518

  Ginbar, Yuval ^a  

^a AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 77956045857     PISSN: 14617781     EISSN: 17441021     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1093/hrlr/ngq024     Document Type: Article

References (102)

1. ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, with the other five member states gradually joining during the 1980s and 1990s
2. See http://www.aseansec.org/1212.htm [last accessed 16 May 2010].
3. Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, signed 20 November 2007, available (along with many other documents on the topic of this article) on the ASEAN Secretariat website at: http://www.aseansec.org/ASEAN-Charter.pdf [last accessed 6 March 2009].
4. For a useful, albeit at times somewhat apologetic, discussion of the Charter in particular and institution building in ASEAN more generally see Seah, 'Current Developments, Public International Law: The ASEAN Charter', (2009) 58 International and Comparative Law Quarterly 212
5. The Charter entered into force on 15 December 2008
6. Amnesty International gave a short publication it produced on the subject the title: 'The ASEAN Charter and human rights: Window of opportunity or window dressing?', 1 July 2008, AI Index: ASA 03/003/2008, available at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA03/003/2008/en/384b86ba-4393- 11dd-a1d1-2fa8cc41ebbd/asa030032008eng.pdf [last accessed 10 June 2010].
7. Two key agreements mainly concerning peace and security have been reached by ASEAN member states
8. The first, adopted as early as 1976, is the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (signed on 24 February 1976, entered into force 21 June 1976, Protocols added), available at: http://www.aseansec.org/1217.htm [last accessed 22 May 2010], provides in Articles 2(d) and 2(e) respectively, inter alia, for 'Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful means'and 'Renunciation of the threat or use of force', whilst also providing for economic cooperation.
9. The second is the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (signed on 15 December 1995, entered into force 27 March 1997, Protocol added), available at: http://www.aseansec.org/5181.htm [last accessed 5 June 2010].
10. Which obliges state parties not to develop or possess nuclear weapons, to make use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes responsibly and to dispose of radioactive waste in accordance with International Atomic Energy Agency standards and procedures. A review of the myriad economic (in the widest sense of the term) agreements, arrangements and instruments developed by ASEAN since its inception are beyond the scope of this article. The overall aim of member states is for ASEAN to become an integrated economic market, not unlike the European Union, comprising: '(i) a single market and production base, (ii) a highly competitive economic region, (ii) a region of equitable economic development and (iv) a region fully integrated into the global economy'. Such integration is planned to be completed by 2015.
11. see ASEAN Secretariat, 'ASEAN Economic Community' at: http://www.aseansec.org/18757.htm [last accessed 20 May 2010].
12. It should be remembered that whereas in 1967, ASEAN occupied the backwaters of international industry, trade and technology, in 2010, with a population of almost 600 million and a GDP of USD 1.5 trillion this is clearly no longer the case.
13. For statistics on ASEAN, see 'ASEANStats', the statistical arm of the ASEAN Secretariat at: http://www.aseansec.org/22122.htm [last accessed 18 May 2010].
14. The second section of the Bangkok Declaration sets out seven 'aims and purposes' for ASEAN. First among the aims and purposes '[t]o accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region'. Most of the other 'aims and purposes' also refer to cooperation with existing international and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes, and collaboration and mutual assistance in economic fields, although social, cultural, technical, scientific and educational collaboration is also mentioned.
15. JointCommuniqué of the 26th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting Singapore, 23-24 July 1993, available at: http://www.aseansec.org/2009.htm [last accessed 17 May 2010].
16. Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993, A/CONF.157/23.
17. The statement closely follows similar sentiments on human rights expressed by a meeting of Asian state representatives in the run-up to the Vienna Conference
18. see, for example, Preamble, para. 8 and Articles 5 and 8, Final Declaration of the Regional Meeting forAsia of theWorld Conference on Human Rights, available at: http://law.hku.hk/lawgovtsociety/Bangkok%20Declaration.htm [last accessed 19 May 2010].
19. Article 37, Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. The UN had made similar calls since the 1970's.
20. For a list of UN General Assembly and Commission on Human Rights resolutions to this effect, see Phan, 'The Evolution towards an ASEAN Human Rights Body', (2008) 1 Asia-Pacific Journal on Human Rights and the Law 2
21. Brunei Darussalam joined the Association in 1984
22. Which describes itself as 'an international organisation of lawyers' associations, individual lawyers, judges, legal academics and others which focuses on the interests and concerns of the legal profession in the Asia Pacific region'. See: http://lawasia.asn.au/ [last accessed 15 May 2010].
23. Currently in Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines,Thailand and Singapore
24. For text, see e.g. http://www.fnfasia.org/attachments/408_Draft_HumanRightsCommission_ Agreement.pdf [last accessed 17 May 2010].
25. For their part, the Foreign Ministers 'noted with appreciation the consultations between the ASEAN Senior Officials and the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism'. See Joint Communiqué of the 33rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, Bangkok, Thailand, 24-25 July 2000, at para. 33, available at: http://www.aseanhrmech.org/downloads/2000_Joint_Communique.pdf [last accessed 15 may 2010].
26. For a detailed description of the Working Group's activities, see: http://www.aseanhrmech.org/ [last accessed 15 May 2010].
27. SAPA describes itself as 'a platform for consultation, cooperation and coordination among groups engaged in action, advocacy and lobbying at the intergovernmental levels', and was established in Bangkok in February 2006
28. See Report: Solidarity for Asian Peoples Advocacy (SAPA) General Forum, 5-6 February 2007, available at: http://www.caramasia.org/enews/2007/march/inside/sapa/sapa_report.pdf [last accessed 23 May 2010].
29. CARAMAsia (Coordination of Action Research on AIDS & Mobility), from whose website this is taken, is a member organisation of SAPA and focuses on the rights of migrant workers. 18 Some of them with a remit beyond the geographical confines of ASEAN, for example, Forum-Asia, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development.
30. see: http://www.forum--asia.org/ [last accessed 20 May 2010].
31. The Group was comprised of (then) incumbent and former prominent politicians, one representative of each member state. The EPG's recommendations on human rights and civil society involvement went further than the Charter subsequently did.
32. See Report of the Eminent Persons Group on the ASEAN Charter, December 2006, available at: http://www.aseansec.org/19247.pdf [last accessed 20 May 2010].
33. Forum-Asia, 'SAPA engages with Eminent Persons Group', 22 April 2006, available at: http://www.forum-asia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view &id=58&Itemid=47 [last accessed 19 May 2010].
34. Cebu Declaration on the Blueprint of the ASEAN Charter, 13 January 2007, available at: http://www.aseansec.org/19257.html [last accessed 15 May 2010].
35. Komnas HAM, SUHAKAM, CHRP and Khamakarn Sit, Declaration of Cooperation, Bali, 28 June 2007, available at: http://www.aseannhriforum.org/attachments/011_declaration_of_ cooperation.pdf [last accessed 10 May 2010].
36. The High Level Task Force was meeting also in Bali at the same time; theTask Force's meeting with the NHRI's took place on 27 June 2007
37. Position Paper of the National Human Rights Institutions of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand on Human Rights Aspects of the ASEAN Charter, Bali, 26 June 2007, available at: http://www.aseannhriforum.org/attachments/012_positionpaper_bali.pdf [last accessed 17 May 2010].
38. The role of NHRI's is detailed and emphasised in Durbach, Renshaw and Byrnes, "A tongue but no teeth?" The emergence of a regional human rights mechanism in the Asia Pacific region', (2009) 31 Sydney Law Review 211
39. Apparently even this met with resistance from Myanmar and the other states described above as 'human-rights-apprehensive' (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos), which had to be overcome for this provision to be included
40. See, for example, a Reuters report, Mogato, 'Myanmar withdraws objections to SE Asia rights body', 30 July 2007, available at: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSP28331120070730 [last accessed 4 June 2010].
41. A member organisation, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), describes the Caucus as representing 'a network of women's human rights groups from Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam engaging with key ASEAN structures and in key processes towards ensuring the realisation and protection of women's human rights to ensure more effective and integrated regional human rights mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms'
42. See APLWD Press Release, 'Celebrating 'Progress for All' on International Women's Day 2010: APWLD Celebrates a New Human Rights Mechanism for Women and Children in Southeast Asia', 3 March 2010, available at; http://www.apwld.org/pdf/ACWC%20Update-%20APWLD.pdf [last accessed 3 June 2010].
43. See ASEAN Secretariat Press Release: 'Another step forward for regional human rights cooperation', Phuket, Thailand, 20 July 2009, available at: http://www.aseansec.org/PR-Another-Step-Forward-for-Regional-HR-Cooperat ion.pdf [last accessed 4 June 2010].
44. UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 1979, 1249 UNTS 13, entered into force 3 September 1981; UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, 1577 UNTS 3, entered into force 2 September 1990
45. Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) 2004-2010, Annex 1: ASEAN Security Community, Programme Areas and Measures, adopted by the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, 29 November 2004, at 30 (Ref. No. 1.1.4.7), available at: http://www.aseansec.org/VAP-10th%20ASEAN%20Summit.pdf [last accessed 6 June 2010].
46. Roadmap for the ASEAN Community 2009-2015, adopted by the ASEAN Summit in Cha am Hua Hin, 1 March 2009, at 78, section on ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint, at para. 27(i), available at: http://www.aseansec.org/publications/RoadmapASEANCommunity.pdf [last accessed 9 June 2010].
47. Although here too the SAPA Task Force was very active: see, for example, Submission of Child Rights Groups on the Terms of Reference of the ASEAN Commission on Women and Children (ACWC TOR), Jakarta, 8 May 2009, available at: http://www.crin.org/docs/Submission%20of%20Child%20Rights%20Groups%20on% 20the%20TOR%20of%0the%20ACWC.pdf [last accessed 3 June 2010].
48. ACWC TOR, available at: http://www.aseansec.org/documents/TOR-ACWC.pdf [last accessed 14 May 2010].
49. 'Inaugurated: ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children', 7 April 2010, available at: http://www.aseansec.org/24447.htm#Article-2[last accessed 19 May 2010].
50. See, for instance, SAPA Task Force on ASEAN and Human Rights' Submission to the High Level Panel on the establishment of an ASEAN human rights (HLP) during the HLP-Civil Society Dialogue Session during 9th HLP meeting, Kuala Lumpur, 20 March 2009, available at: http://www.forum-asia.org/news/press_releases/pdfs/3rd-CS-Submission-TOR -AHRB-2009-Mar.pdf [last accessed 20 May 2010].
51. And Amnesty International's letters to the High Level Panel, 28 October 2008, AI Index: TG ASA 21/2008.006, and 15 June 2009, AI Index: TG ASA 21/2009/24.
52. See, for example, SAPA Task Force on ASEAN and Human Rights, A Proposal for the Rules of Procedure of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, Submitted 17 March 2010, available at: http://www.forum-asia.org/2010/CSO%20RoP%20for%20AICHR%20final%20with%20 cover%20page.pdf [last accessed 18 May 2010].
53. Declaration on the Elimination of Violence againstWomen in the ASEAN Region, adopted by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Jakarta on 13 June 2004, available at: http://www.aseansec.org/16189.htm [last accessed 18 May 2010].
54. ASEAN Declaration against Trafficking in Persons ParticularlyWomen and Children, adopted by the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, 29 November 2004, available at: http://www.aseansec.org/16793.htm [last accessed 12 June 2010].
55. ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, adopted by the ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines, 13 January 2007, available at: http://www.aseansec.org/19264.htm [last accessed 18 May 2010].
56. In particular, a binding treaty on migrant workers' rights. However, as of June 2010, efforts to reach agreement between ASEAN states sending such workers and those receiving them have failed.
57. Perhaps surprisingly, strong provisions for human rights protections are contained in the ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism (see Preamble (first paragraph) and Articles VIII(1) and X), signed at the ASEAN summit in Cebu, the Philippines, 13 January 2007, and as yet to enter into force, available at: http://www.aseansec.org/19250.htm [last accessed 17 May 2010].
58. Article 1(7), ASEAN Charter. The previous quotations are from the introductory paragraph of Article 2(2).
59. Article 2(2)(i), ASEAN Charter
60. Article 2(2)(j), ASEAN Charter
61. Lacking as they do even a single specific 'do' or 'don't', such as the prohibition on any 'distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion' in states' protection of human rights in the otherwise vague (human rights-wise) Charter of the United Nations, 10 December 1945, TS 995: see Articles 1(3), 13(1)(b) and 55(c)
62. Articles 2(2)(b), (e) and (f) respectively, ASEAN Charter
63. Article 20(1), ASEAN Charter
64. Adopted by the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, 20 July 2009, available at: http://www.aseansec.org/DOC-TOR-AHRB.pdf [last accessed 9 May 2010].
65. Article 1(1), AICHR TOR
66. Article 1(6), AICHR TOR
67. Article 1(4), AICHR TOR
68. Articles 2(a), (b) and (c), AICHRTOR. Cf. Articles 2(2)(b), (e) and (f), ASEANCharter.
69. Article 2(e), AICHR TOR, repeating verbatim Article 2(2)(i), ASEAN Charter
70. Article 2(2), AICHR TOR. C.f. Article 5,Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.
71. Article 2(3), AICHR TOR
72. Articles 2(4) and (5), AICHR TOR
73. Article 4, AICHR TOR
74. Article 5(2), AICHR TOR
75. Article 5(3), AICHR TOR
76. Article 6(3), AICHR TOR
77. Amnesty International Public Statement, 'ASEAN's new body must protect and promote human rights', 21 July 2009
78. see: http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/asean-new-body-must-prot ect-promote-human-rights-20090721 [last accessed 12 June 2010].
79. Articles 4(3)-(6), AICHR TOR
80. Article 4(1), AICHR TOR
81. On the SAPA Task Force campaign under this slogan, see, for example, Forum-Asia, 'ASEAN should establish a human rights body that is not below international standards', 18 June 2009, available at: http://www.forumasia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view& id=2232&Itemid=32 [last accessed 11 June 2010].
82. See, for example, Ashayagachat, 'Compromising - even on human rights', Bangkok Post, 22 July 2009, available at: http://www.bangkokpost.com/tech/technews/20691/ [last accessed 8 June 2010].
83. Wahyuni, 'ASEAN inaugurates human rights commission', Jakarta Post (no date) available at: http://www.inwent.org/imperia/md/content/a-internet2008/iij/iij_newslett er_web.pdf [last accessed 12 June 2010].
84. Article 4(10), AICHR TOR
85. Article 4(2), AICHR TOR
86. Available at: http://www.aseansec.org/documents/TOR-ACWC.pdf [last accessed 14 May 2010].
87. Article 4, ACWC TOR
88. Article 7(1), ACWC TOR
89. Article 2(5), ACWC TOR
90. Articles 3(2) and (4), ACWC TOR
91. Article 5(6), ACWC TOR
92. Article 5(7), ACWC TOR
93. Article 5(11), ACWC TOR
94. Article 3(4), ACWC TOR
95. Article 5(4), ACWC TOR
96. Article 6(9), AICHR TOR
97. Indonesia repeated this feat when appointing CSO members to represent it at the ACWC. It may also be noted that Malaysia appointed members of its NHRI, SUHAKAM, both to the AICHR (Mr Shafee Abdulla) and to the ACWC (Prof Chiam Heng Keng).
98. The incident, in which 57 individuals, including 34 journalists, were fatally shot after being abducted by gunmen, occurred on 23 November 2009 and was elections-related
99. Fonbuena, 'ASEAN human rights body fails kin of massacred journalists', abs-cbnNews.com, 29 March 2010, available at: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/03/29/10/asean-humanrights-body-fails- kin-massacred-journalists [last accessed 10 June 2010].
100. Article 4(1), AICHR TOR
101. Article 4(10), AICHR TOR
102. Amnesty International, 'ASEAN human rights commission stumbles at first hurdle', 30 March 2010, AI Index: IOR 64/001/2010, available at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/IOR64/001/2010/en [last accessed 16 May 2010].