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Abstract

On 21 November 2007, leaders of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) promulgated the ASEAN Charter (the Charter). Not only does it provide legal basis for ASEAN’s legal personality; it also provides new legal norms for its member states. One of those that need to be discussed is the establishment of ASEAN’s Human Rights Body (the Body). This obligation is stipulated in Article 14 of the Charter, which stresses the commitment of member nations to protect human rights. However, the establishment of the Body has faced numerous pessimistic opinions regarding the organisation’s capability to protect human rights considering its notorious reputation over this matter. The article is fosucing on some areas of concerns that need to be looked at to put the Body into operation. Some important lessons from the European Human Rights Body is examined as comparison.

References

Bibliography

Books

Philippe Sands and Pierre Klein, Bowett’s of International Institutions, fifth edition, Sweet & Maxwell, London, 2001. Rudolfo C. Severino, Framing the ASEAN Charter. An ISEAS Perspective, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Utopia Press Pte Ltd, Singapore, 2005. Locknie Hsu, “Towards an ASEAN Charter. Some Thoughts from the Legal Perspective” in Rudolfo C. Severino, Framing the ASEAN Charter. An ISEAS Perspective, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Utopia Press Pte Ltd, Singapore, 2005.

Journal Articles

Denoon, David B. H., and Evelyn Colbert, “Challenges for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)” 71(4) Pacific Affairs 1999. Bunyanunda, Mann, “Burma, ASEAN, and Human Rights: The Decade of Constructive Engagement, 1991-2001” 2 Stanford Journal of East Asian Affairs 2002. Katsumata, Hiro, “Why is ASEAN Diplomacy Changing? From “Non-Interference” to “Open and Frank Discussions””, 44(2) Asian Survey 2004. Kivimäki, Timo, “The Long Peace of ASEAN” 38(1) Journal of Peace Research 2001. Okere, B. Obinna, “The Protection of Human Rights in Africa and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights: A Comparative Analysis with the European and American Systems” 6(2) Human Rights Quarterly 1984. Greenberg, Jack and Anthony R. Shalit, “New Horizons for Human Rights: The European Convention, Court, and Commission of Human Rights” 63(8) Columbia Law Review 1963.Bernhardt, Rudolf, “Reform of the Control Machinery under the European Convention on Human Rights: Protocol 11” 89(1) American Journal of International Law 1995. Kokott, Juliane and Frank Hoffmeister, “Opinion 2/94, accession of the Community to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom” 90(4) American Journal of International Law 1996. Robertson, A.H., “The Council of Europe, 1949-153-I” 3(2) International and Comparative Law Quarterly 1954. Robertson, A.H., “The Legal Work of the Council of Europe” 10(1) International and Comparative Law Quarterly 1961. Robertson, A.H., “The European Court of Human Rights”, 9(1) American Journal of Comparative Law 1960. Kraft, Herman Joseph S., “Human Rights, ASEAN and Constructivism: Revisiting the “Asian Values” Discourse” 22(45) Philippine Political Science Journal 2001. Engle, Karen, “Culture and Human Rights: The Asian Values Debate in Context” 32 International Law and Politics 2000. Boyle, Elizabeth Heger and Melissa Thompson, “National Politics and Resort to the European Commission on Human Rights” 35(2) Law & Society Review 2001. Conventions / International Agreements/International Decisions The ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration), Bangkok, 8 August 1967. Available at http://www.aseansec.org/1212.htm, accessed at 20 February 2008. Protocol Amending the Agreement on the Establishing of the ASEAN Secretariat, 22 July 1992. Available at http://www.aseansec.org/1198.htm, accessed at 20 February 2008. Council of Europe, ETS No. 155, “Protocol No. 11 to the Convention for the ProtectionofHumanRights and Fundamental Freedoms, restructuring the control machinery established thereby”. Available at http://conventions. coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/ Html/155.htm, accessed at 20 February 2008. Interhandel Case (Switzerland v. United States of America), 1959 ICJ Reports 27.Internet The National Human Rights Institutions Forum in Asia Pacific Region. Available at http://www.asiapacificforum.net/members/apf-member-categories, accessed at 20 February 2008. Rizal Sukma, “The Future of ASEAN: Towards a Security Community”. Paper at a seminar on “ASEAN Cooperation: Challenges and Prospects in the Current International Situation”, New York, 3 June 2003. Available at http://www. indonesia mission-ny.org/issuebaru/Mission/asean/paper_rizalsukma. PDF, accessed at 20 February 2008.Internet The National Human Rights Institutions Forum in Asia Pacific Region. Available at http://www.asiapacificforum.net/members/apf-member-categories, accessed at 20 February 2008. Rizal Sukma, “The Future of ASEAN: Towards a Security Community”. Paper at a seminar on “ASEAN Cooperation: Challenges and Prospects in the Current International Situation”, New York, 3 June 2003. Available at http://www. indonesia mission-ny.org/issuebaru/Mission/asean/paper_rizalsukma. PDF, accessed at 20 February 2008.

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