ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community and Human Rights Issues

Second, the diversity of culture, customs, development levels and differences in political institutions, leading to different approaches to human rights issues as well as interpretations of rights. All these elements will raise the issue of how to build a human rights body that both ensures effectiveness in the implementation of human rights in the region and respects national interests in accordance with the principles recorded in the ASEAN Charter: "Respect for the differences in culture, language and religion of the peoples of ASEAN, while emphasizing common values in the spirit of unity in diversity" (Article 2).

Third, ASEAN’s fundamental principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states will also be a significant factor in determining the authority of the regional human rights body. How can this mechanism resolve conflicts and clashes in the region without violating the principle of non-aggression? How broad will its authority be? What is the level of enforcement? These are issues that need to be carefully studied.

Fourth, the legal systems and state apparatus organizations in member countries are different, not really complete, and lack balance and cohesion with each other.

Although promoting and protecting human rights in ASEAN faces many difficulties and challenges, it also has fundamental advantages.

Firstly, the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration fully addresses human rights in the fields of civil, political (including 14 rights), economic, social and cultural (including 8 rights). At the same time, the Declaration also affirms the right to development and the right to live in peace of all members of the ASEAN community.

Second, the consensus of countries on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, with the birth of the AICHR, is a political victory, demonstrating the determination of each member country as well as of the entire ASEAN organization in promoting and protecting human rights.

Third, the principles set forth in the Declaration and in the activities of the AICHR are positive steps not only towards respecting and ensuring human rights but also preventing plots to exploit democracy and human rights issues to interfere in the internal affairs of countries.

The ASEAN Community has an overarching goal of being towards the people, by the people and for the people. The Socio-Cultural Community has a specific goal of improving the quality of life of the people, creating conditions for people to access development opportunities, aiming for equality and social justice, minimizing impacts related to the environment, the impacts of globalization and the scientific and technological revolution. These contents of the ASEAN Community in general and the Socio-Cultural Community in particular are both goals and favorable conditions to help ASEAN countries promote cooperation with each other and with countries outside the bloc, enhance the ability to protect people, improve the level of human rights for ASEAN citizens and develop harmonious societies together, creating a unique identity of ASEAN: one Community, one destiny, unity in diversity.

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Performed by: Ambassador, Dr. Luan Thuy Duong, Designed by: Hong Nga, Photo source: VNA, VGP…

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