The International Federation for Human Rights has warned that ASEAN’s opaque drafting of its human-rights declaration with little engagement of civil society could lead to a document that contradicts international standards.

In a press statement yesterday, FIDH, which represents 164 rights groups worldwide, said the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights had given no disclosure to civil society groups of the draft it was working on.

“By resisting civil-society input, AICHR is squandering valuable expertise and resources that independent civil society organisations could bring to the work of the Commission”, the release quoted FIDH deputy secretary-general Debbie Stothard as saying.