About IWGIAASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, AICHR
Eight ASEAN countries have indigenous peoples; Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao-PDR, Vietnam and Burma. The indigenous peoples of the ASEAN countries strive to include indigenous peoples’ rights in the priorities of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, AICHR, which was formally launched in 2009.
No reference to indigenous rights
ASEAN has made some progress in integrating human rights as part of its framework, but none of its documents refer to indigenous peoples and their rights. Civil society organizations also criticize the AICHR’s Terms of Reference for its lack of a clear protection mandate, its principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of ASEAN member states, and its principle about consensual decision making.
So far, there has been little consultation with and participation of civil society in the AICHR as the AICHR has not yet adopted guidelines on how they will engage with civil society and National Human Rights Institutions.
Indigenous peoples’ Task Force lobbies the AICHR
Since 2009, an Indigenous Peoples’ Task Force, the IPTF, coordinates the participation and engagement of indigenous peoples in the work of the ASEAN and its relevant bodies. The IPTF aims at formulating joint strategies and action plans to lobby the AICHR. The Task Force also engages other civil society organizations to support indigenous issues and build a common platform for AICHR advocacy.
The IPTE is composed of indigenous leaders from the eight ASEAN countries with indigenous peoples. The regional network organization Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, AIPP, hosts the secretariat of the IPTF.
Read IWGIA’s briefing paper “ASEAN’s Indigenous Peoples”
Relevant IWGIA activities
IWGIA has supported the work of the IPTF since mid-2010. IWGIA is presently engaged in facilitating experience sharing between the three regional human rights mechanisms: the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights.
