ASEAN 'must establish regional mechanism on human rights'<\/p>\n
Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Southeast Asian nations must continue their endeavors to
\nestablish and develop a network of human rights mechanisms, the
\nparticipants of a regional workshop said on Friday.<\/p>\n
At the two-day gathering, which was attended by government
\nofficials, human rights activists, non-governmental organizations
\nand scholars, the possibility of forming a regional mechanism on
\nhuman rights was discussed at length. The meeting also focused on
\nsetting up a joint working group, an eminent persons group, and a
\nregional commission for the promotion and protection of the
\nrights of women and children.<\/p>\n
Human rights and fundamental freedoms -- including civil
\nliberties -- are the hallmarks of a democratic society. However,
\nparticipants agreed that human rights was not the only issue that
\nneeded to be addressed. In a world that so recently experienced
\nterror attacks, including in Bali, Jakarta and Madrid, security
\ntoo was a crucial concern.<\/p>\n
That is why the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
\nadopted the ASEAN Security Community (ASC) concept during its
\nBali summit last year.<\/p>\n
Marty A. Natalegawa, director-general for ASEAN cooperation at
\nthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed that the recognition of
\na need for an ASEAN Security Community had alerted ASEAN to slow
\nprogress in the realization of a regional mechanism on human
\nrights.<\/p>\n
\"The more ASEAN governments and societies are committed to the
\nestablishment of an ASEAN Security Community (ASC), the more we
\ncan be assured that an effective regional mechanism will be
\nformed to promote and protect human rights,\" Marty said on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
The formation of an ASC and the establishment of an ASEAN
\nRegional Mechanism on Human Rights must be regarded as
\ncomplimentary endeavors, said secretary-general of the foreign
\nministry Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat.<\/p>\n
\"A government's commitment to the Security Commitment may also
\nbe seen as a commitment to the conscientious promotion and
\nprotection of the human rights of its citizens,\" Sudjadnan said
\nin his closing remarks on Friday at the workshop.<\/p>\n
Another participant said that progress on the planned regional
\nhuman rights mechanism was relatively slow.<\/p>\n
\"We have to admit that, in terms of a substantive agreement
\namong the ASEAN governments in establishing the proposed regional
\nmechanism, and in taking concrete action in various fields,
\nprogress so far has been decidedly slow,\" Ali Alatas, former
\nIndonesian foreign minister told participants on Friday.<\/p>\n
The meeting's recommendations will be presented to the
\nforthcoming ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting to be held on June 28
\nin Jakarta.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-must-establish-regional-mechanism-on-human-rights-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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