54. The Evolving ASEAN Human Rights System: The ASEAN Human Rights Declaration of 2012

Abstract

INTRODUCTION ¶1On November 18, 2012, heads of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (hereinafter "ASEAN") met in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh and adopted the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (hereinafter "the Declaration"). 1 The adoption represents an important stage in the development of the ASEAN human rights system first envisaged by ASEAN foreign ministers in 1993.During the 14 years from 1993 to 2007, the system developed slowly, but since the adoption of the ASEAN Charter in 2007, the pace has picked up significantly.An institutionally and normatively-plural system now exists and the adoption of the Declaration adds momentum to the process and offers insights into the current thinking of ASEAN leaders.As Steiner, Alston and Goodman argue, regional human rights systems have been encouraged by the United Nations since the late 1960s, especially in General Assembly Resolution 32/127 of 1977, 2 and the systems have an important role to play in the international promotion and protection of human rights in a tiered and mutually-dependent structure of national, regional and global institutions.The ASEAN human rights system is the fourth regional human rights system and the first to be established since 1981 globally; it followed the establishment of European, Inter-American and African systems from 1950, 1969 and 1981 respectively. 3 Through an exploration of the Declaration and the wider regional system of which it is now a part, this article seeks to contribute to the debate about regional human rights systems and the conditions under which they emerge and evolve in

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