At the invitation of the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (Working Group), an Entity associated with ASEAN under the ASEAN Charter, U Nyunt Swe, Member of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) participated in the workshop on the Human Rights Implications of the ASEAN Community Blueprints, held at the ASEAN secretariat, Jakarta, Indonesia from 12 to 13 November 2013.

        The representatives from the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), National Human Rights Institutions of ASEAN Member States, ASEAN sectional ministerial bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the Community Blueprints and Civil Society Organizations, among others, attended the Workshop.

The main objectives of the Workshop are to discuss and assess the status of the implementation of the Community Blueprints, with a focus on the human rights aspect of the issues and action points, as well as to evaluate the coordination among the different implementation agencies.

19 November 2013

         Eleven-day training workshop for MNHRC staff on “Human Rights and the Roles and Functions of NHRIs” was opened this morning, 11 November, by the Chairman of the MNHRC at the meeting room of the Commission.

             In his opening Statement, the Chairman stated that the Commission to be successful in its work needs support of the efficient staff who are imbued with human rights knowledge. The enjoyment of human rights rests on a sound education of these rights. He added that appealing to human rights and ensuring respect for them is a way of, not only achieving a fixed goal, but also changing the old system that we had lived in.

            This is the second training workshop for the staff that the MNHRC has held in collaboration with the RWI financed by Swedish Development Co-operation. The first was held in March 2013.

            The agenda for the training workshop includes subjects such as – Public international law and the Bill of Rights; UN Human Rights Council and the Treaty Body System; Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; CEDAW and CRC; Constitution, International Conventions and complaint procedures; NHRIs Rules and Functions and Convention against Torture.

            The workshop will further enhance the capacity of the staff on human rights norms and standards and the Roles and Functions of the NHRIs. It will conclude on 21 November 2013.

             At the invitation of the co-organizers- the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the Raoul Wallenberg Institute (Sweden), the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines and the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), U Nyunt Swe, Member of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) participated in the 13^th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights, held in Copenhagen, Denmark from 21 to 23 October 2013.

          Over 140 international representatives from 48 ASEM member countries participated in the event and the topic of the seminar is “Human Rights and Environment”. At the Seminar, opening speech, on behalf of the Host, Kingdom of Denmark was made by Ms. Ida AUKEN, Danish Minister of the Environment. Professor John KNOX, United Nations Independent Expert on Human Rights and the Environment and Dr. Poul ENGBERG-PEDERSON, Managing Director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) were among the keynote speakers.

          The Seminar discussed the key aspects of environmental protection and human rights, especially with regards to Asia and Europe. Discussion took place in four closed-door Working Groups, focusing on the following topic areas:-

(a)  the Interaction between Sustainable Development, Environment and Human Rights;

(b) Access to Information, Participatory Rights and Access to Justice;

(c)  Actors, Institutions and Governance;

(d) Climate Change and Human Rights Implications.

As the outcome of the Seminar, key messages and recommendations to the ASEM governments will be disseminated.