KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Interface with Representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) took place from 2pm to 3pm on 8 July 2025. Chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato' Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, the session was attended by the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN Member States and the Foreign Minister of Timor-Leste, participating as an observer.
As the first formal engagement on the 58th AMM calendar, the Interface served as an important curtain-raiser for this year’s discussions. It set the tone for Malaysia’s Chairmanship, which is anchored in the principles of inclusivity and sustainability.
In his opening remarks, the Foreign Minister expressed Malaysia’s honour in convening the session and reaffirmed the importance of advancing ASEAN’s human rights agenda as part of the region’s broader integration efforts. He stressed that the promotion and protection of human rights remain integral to ASEAN community-building and emphasised the need for these efforts to be ASEAN-led and ASEAN-owned.
The Foreign Minister also welcomed AICHR’s ongoing work, particularly its progress in developing two regional declarations—on the right to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, and on the right to development and peace. These initiatives reflect ASEAN’s shared commitment to addressing pressing concerns across the region, including inequality, environmental degradation, and emerging global challenges.
During the session, Malaysia’s Representative to AICHR and Chair of AICHR 2025 Edmund Bon Tai Soon delivered the AICHR Statement and presented the AICHR Annual Report 2025. Ministers and representatives exchanged views on the report’s findings and discussed ways to further embed human rights principles into ASEAN’s policies and practices.
In his closing remarks, the Foreign Minister expressed confidence that AICHR would continue to serve as a cornerstone of ASEAN’s efforts to promote social development and justice. He reiterated that human rights will remain a key pillar of ASEAN’s journey towards realising the ASEAN 2045 Vision.
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