New Delhi (Mizzima) - Leaders of Southeast Asian nations on Friday inaugurated a new regional human rights body as they kicked off the meeting at the 15th ASEAN summit in Hua Hin, Thailand.

The heads of the government of ASEAN on Friday announced the ‘Cha-am-Hua Hin Declaration on the Inauguration of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) aimed at further promoting and protecting human rights in the region.

According to a press release, the set up of the AICHR is “another significant milestone” in the development of the regional body and “provided the concrete expression of Article 14 of the ASEAN Charter and ASEAN’s commitment to build a more people oriented ASEAN Community.”

But Debbie Stothard, coordinator of the Alternative ASEAN Network said, ASEAN’s human rights body should be set up in keeping with international standards for human rights commission if it aims at promoting and protecting human rights in the region.

“This commission should be set up to be effective and impartial,” Stothard said.

The AICHR is made up of representatives appointed by ASEAN Member States, to be chaired by the representative of the country, which holds the Chairmanship of ASEAN.

“There is no transparency in selecting representatives by the respective countries to the body except Thailand and Indonesia,” said Stothard. Other members just picked up their own representatives as the commissioners for the human rights body, she added.

Debbie also urged ASEAN to reject military ruled Burma, which is known for violating human rights and repressing democracy activists in the country, from the newly founded human rights body.  

“The country like Burma should not be included in the body as the regime keeps on violating human rights in the country,” she added.