SETTING UP OF ASEAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

SETTING UP OF ASEAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION:

(Implications for Singapore): 8.

Prof. Thio Li-ann asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) if he will provide an update on the reported ASEAN proposal to set up a human rights commission and what kind of time frame is envisaged before this is up and running; and (b) what implications, if any, this may have for Singapore's domestic laws and foreign policy.

The Second Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat): Mr Speaker, Sir, at the recent ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Manila, ASEAN Foreign Ministers agreed that the ASEAN Charter should state clearly our intention to establish an ASEAN human rights body.

This is a significant step forward for ASEAN. Some countries were reluctant to make this move at first because of the way the issue of human rights has been politicised by special interest groups. However, as Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda pointed out, there is no

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reason why we should be 'allergic' to the protection of human rights as if this is not an objective of our governments.

Once the Charter has been signed by the Leaders at the Summit in November, officials will proceed to draw up the terms of reference for the human rights body. This will have to take into account the history and diversity of political systems in ASEAN. Its powers are more likely to be consultative than prescriptive, and will of course evolve with time. Singapore as ASEAN Chair will work with all the member countries to ensure that we establish something that is practical, meaningful and has everyone's support.

I do not see the human rights body affecting Singapore's domestic laws or foreign policy. It will, however, raise ASEAN's international standing.

Mdm Halimah Yacob (Jurong): I have two supplementary questions, Sir. First, I would like to ask the Minister, as interpretation of human rights differs in the region, what kind of benchmarks or reference points will be used by this commission in order to assess the standards of observance of human rights in the region. Second question, Sir: will there be a mechanism put in place in the human rights commission for individuals or anyone in the region to make complaints of violation of human rights?

Sir, the Minister said that this commission is likely to be only consultative. It will then lead to the question whether this commission will really be effective in monitoring human rights in the region, if it is only meant to be consultative.

Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: Sir, as I said, it is premature right now to prejudge what is the outcome of this human rights body. We are just at the early stages. Discussions are just starting. So we need to see exactly how it goes. But what is

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important, like what the Member has said, are the standards and whether

individuals have rights. Here, we need to take into account quite critically what are the history, realities and cultures of all the 10 ASEAN member states. This is to ensure that what we have is meaningful and have the full support of all the ASEAN member states.

Prof. Thio Li-ann (Nominated Member): Given that the idea of human rights beyond a core of rights like the prohibition against torture or genocide remains controversial, we still need to have a meaningful standard. We must ensure that the human rights standards in this new proposed mechanism will not be diluted. I would like to ask whether or not there are any plans to peg it to something like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or whether guidance would be taken from those UN Human Rights Treaties that I believe all ASEAN states have already signed.

Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: As I said, Mr Speaker, Sir, it is really too early to prejudge this. They have just started discussing. Whether it will be the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights, or economic, social and cultural rights, all these are quite early stages. We will take it a step at a time.