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