SOVEREIGNTY VS. HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE ASEAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

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WILLIAM J. JONES

Abstract

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) established the first regional human rights mechanism in the last region of the world to not have a mechanism in 2007 with the signing of the ASEAN Charter. The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) was formally established in 2009. The first order of business for the newly established commission was to draft a human rights declaration for the region and its member states. Since AICHR’s establishment practitioners, scholars and commentators have not been impressed with the commission’s work. In the 15 years since being established AICHR has not moved past promotional activities towards protection of human rights. This paper seeks to explore the intersection between human rights and state sovereignty in ASEAN.

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References

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