ASEAN agrees to review rights panels

ASEAN agrees to review rights panels

LAOS: Southeast Asian nations have agreed to consider creating panels on the rights of women and children as possible precursors to a regional human rights commission, an official said on Monday.

Indonesia proposed a regional rights commission with investigative powers in 2003, but its colleagues in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are still mulling that -- a contentious topic in a region plagued by frequent human rights violations.

In the meantime, the bloc has decided to consider two separate commissions on women's and children's rights, said Marzuki Darusman, co-chairman of an ASEAN working group on the topic.

"It is good news. It is a happy day for human rights," said Marzuki, a former chairman of Indonesia's Human Rights Commission.

It was unclear whether the interim ASEAN commissions would have investigative powers or the authority to impose penalties on rights abusers. But Marzuki said the panels would have "mechanisms for redressing grievances." He did not say when they might be set up.

The commissions should have investigative and possible prosecutorial powers, "otherwise there won't be much effect," said Chang Lih Kang, an official with the Malaysian human rights group Suaram. -- AP