The 5th Interface Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the Mission of Japan to ASEAN was held on 20 May 2026 at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat.
The Meeting was chaired by the Acting AICHR Chair and Alternate Representative of the Philippines to AICHR, Bolivar L. Bao, with the Mission of Japan to ASEAN led by Ambassador Yonetani Koji. The Meeting was attended by the Representatives and Alternate Representatives of AICHR, officials from the Mission of Japan to ASEAN, and the ASEAN Secretariat.
Representatives of AICHR and the Mission of Japan shared updates on human rights developments, ongoing cooperation, and initiatives since the last meeting.
AICHR presented its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting progress in various areas of work, including the adoption of two landmark ASEAN Declarations on human rights at the 47th ASEAN Summit, i.e., the ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment, and the ASEAN Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and the Right to Peace Towards Realising Inclusive and Sustainable Development, and follow-ups being pursued by AICHR, in consultation with relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies.
The Meeting discussed areas of work on human rights, and highlighted thematic priorities by AICHR, such as business and human rights, digital rights and artificial intelligence, online harm and protection of children and women, environmental protection and climate change, the right to peace and right to development, women’s empowerment, sustainable development and protection of groups in vulnerable situations, human trafficking, cybersecurity and digital transformation, as well as human rights at sea, among others.
The Meeting discussed enhancing cooperation with a view to advancing the implementation of the Five-Year Work Plan of AICHR (2026-2030), aligned with the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future, and the Joint Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation: Trusted Partners (2023). Emphasis was placed on areas of intersection between human rights and business, trade and investment, and digitalisation.
AICHR and the Mission of Japan to ASEAN reaffirmed their commitment in strengthening cooperation on human rights, and looked forward to convening future interface meetings in sustaining dialogue.
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