Regional meet: HRH Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting with the High Level Panel (HLP) on the ASEAN Human Rights Body held in Phuket, Thailand. Picture: Infofoto

 

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Monday, July 20, 2009

 

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and Trade, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah joined other foreign ministers of ASEAN in two major meetings yesterday during the 42nd Ministerial Meeting held at Phuket, Thailand.

During the meetings of the High Level Panel (HLP) on an ASEAN Human Rights Body and High Level Experts Group (HLEG) on the ASEAN Charter, the delegates endorsed the "Terms of Reference"(ToR) of the ASEAN Human Rights Body and adopted the draft agreement on privileges and immunities, respectively.

According to a press release on the 14th Asean Summit website, the Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya stated that the ministers were supportive of the draft ToR and the proposed name "ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights".

Endorsing the ToR would mean that each ASEAN member country can go forward with the national selection of the member of the body immediately after the meeting.

ASEAN also plans to launch the ASEAN human rights body at the 15th ASEAN Summit in October.

The body would comprise of one representative appointed by each ASEAN member country serving a three-year term.

The promotion and protection of human rights is hammered into the purpose of the body's introduction where its tasks include enhancing public awareness on human rights, engaging with other ASEAN bodies, including civil society associate with ASEAN, obtaining information from member states on promotion and protection of human rights as well as consulting with relevant national, region and institutions as well as entities.

Meanwhile, the draft agreement adopted by the HLEG meeting entails giving privileges and immunities to ASEAN in the same manner that is accorded to other regional and international organisations such as the United Nations (UN).

The ASEAN Secretary General will be given the power to make transactions on behalf of ASEAN. Each country will then have to take the draft back for its national process and it is hoped ASEAN foreign ministers will be able to sign it during the Asean Summit to be held in Thailand.

Last night, His Royal Highness attended an Informal Working Dinner hosted by Thai Foreign Minister. (SHR1)

In Courtesy of The Brunei Times