KUALA LUMPUR – The Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) is expected to finalise its upcoming Five-Year Work Plan (2026-2030) by June.
AICHR chair and Malaysia’s representative to the body Edmund Bon Tai Soon said the upcoming plan must be forward-looking and adaptable to global shifts such as the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, and emerging security threats.
“These global developments pose new challenges to human rights, which is why the next five-year plan must be proactive and stay relevant.
“We had extensive discussions yesterday on what meaningful development means – politically, economically, culturally, and socially. We also explored how AI and climate change impact human rights, and how to address statelessness and refugee issues.”
Speaking during a media briefing after delivering the keynote address at a stakeholder consultation session on the draft work plan today, Edmund said the 2026-2030 work plan will be pivotal in shaping the future direction of human rights in the region.
“As Asean and AICHR chair, Malaysia must take the lead in drafting the new 2026–2030 work plan.
“We aim to finalise it by May or June, as we will be meeting with Asean foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur this July.
“During that meeting, we will present the work plan, our annual report, and several proposals to strengthen AICHR’s institutions,” he said.
Since its establishment in 2009, AICHR has worked across 40 thematic areas. Edmund noted that this is the first time Malaysia is hosting such a consultation, offering an opportunity to assess both progress and shortcomings.
“No institution is perfect. If we want to improve AICHR’s work, we must first improve the work plan. “This requires collaboration with government agencies — we cannot do it alone. That’s why agencies like the Health Ministry and the Attorney General’s Chambers are present in this meeting,” he explained.
This marks the first time since AICHR’s inception that Malaysia has opened the development of its Five-Year Work Plan to consultation with civil society and other stakeholders.
When asked about the main challenges AICHR faces in tackling human rights issues, Edmund pointed to limited funding as a key obstacle.
“One of our biggest challenges is resources. We simply do not have sufficient funding to do all that we aspire to.
“Additionally, human rights are not accepted at the same level across all Asean countries. In Malaysia, we are quite open to discussing these issues. But in other countries, differing political systems and cultural contexts – including relationships with civil society – mean there are varying degrees of openness.
“So, the challenge lies in managing these sensitivities, creating space for dialogue where everyone feels comfortable, and working towards a shared understanding,” he said.
Malaysia has also proposed that Asean align its human rights and development agenda with Asean Vision 2045, with strategic goals focused on peace, inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience across the region.
The two-day second consultation session gathered stakeholders from all three pillars of the Asean Community to provide initial input on the draft declaration and explore strategies for integrating human rights into Asean’s broader development framework.
This Malaysian-led initiative is in line with AICHR’s Terms of Reference, which include promoting human rights awareness, engaging stakeholders, and fostering a unified Asean position on human rights. – April 29, 2025