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APF hosts online dialogue on right to healthy environment and climate change

Graphic: Participants of the online dialogue

The dialogue was the first in an ongoing project bringing together NHRIs and inter-governmental mechanisms on the right to a healthy environment.

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The APF has hosted a virtual introductory dialogue between South-East Asia national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and representatives from the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) on the right to a healthy environment and climate change. 

The virtual dialogue, held on 10 June 2022, provided a platform to increase mutual understanding, build consensus and identify opportunities for cooperation between the AICHR and NHRI representatives concerning human rights issues relating to the environment and climate change, and to identify actions that can be taken to address them. 

Participants to the virtual dialogue included AICHR representatives to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand; the ASEAN Secretariat; and South-East Asia NHRI representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Timor Leste. 

The dialogue saw very positive and collaborative exchange and engagement between the NHRI and AICHR representatives. The AICHR representatives described the valuable role of NHRIs and the need to continue working in partnership with NHRIs. 

The protection mandate of NHRIs was also highlighted as being key to the realisation of the right to a healthy environment.

The virtual dialogue was the first in an ongoing project, funded by the European Union, which brings together NHRIs and inter-governmental mechanisms (IGMs) on the issue of the right to a healthy environment and climate change. 

With many of the pressing human rights issues in our region today crossing national borders, it is important to encourage strong and strategic engagement between all institutions with a responsibility to develop policies or take action on these issues. 

By establishing regular platforms for dialogue, NHRIs and IGMs will have opportunities to share their expertise and develop strategies that improve people’s lives and build strong, resilient communities.

Date: 2 September 2022


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Funded by the European Union


Image credits

  1. Participants of the online dialogue - APF/Huong Tran
  2. EU logo - European Union