The ASIAN Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is proudly presents the Annual Report on the Performance of ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights and ASEAN Commission on Women and Children (ACWC). With the title “Have They Passed Their Litmus Test”, the report seeks to discuss progress and challenges of both institutions on carried out their mandate well as their engagement with civil society organizations (CSOs) to uphold human rights issues in the region in 2016.

Despite of the consultative mechanisms status established by AICHR in the year in order to channel the engagement for civil society and the attempt of ACWC to echo information on regional action plans on eradicating violence against women and children (RPAs on EVAW and EVAC), the silence of both ASEAN human rights mechanisms for responding to human rights issues in ASEAN continued to remain a cause for profound concern. With the crackdowns in ASEAN member states, there is no other time better than this for AICHR and ACWC to exercise their mandate and hold ASEAN accountable.

Through the report, FORUM-ASIA calls for strengthening the mandate of AICHR and ACWC from promoting to monitoring, protecting, and provide recommendations to address profound human rights issues in ASEAN, immediately by revising the Term of Reference for work of both mechanisms and establishing independent complaint and monitoring mechanisms that is accessible for CSOs beyond the consultative status.