Myanmar rights commission disqualified from South-east Asian rights forum, loses 2027 chairmanship

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 — The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) has been disqualified from the South-east Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF), costing it its turn at the forum’s rotating chairmanship in 2027.

SEANF said in a statement today that its Governing Board found the MNHRC no longer met the forum’s definition of a national human rights institution, following a formal review of its eligibility that began on Aug 14.

The board passed the resolution on Oct 1, with immediate effect.

The decision was reached by consensus among the chairpersons of five member institutions: Indonesia’s National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP), the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) and Timor-Leste’s Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ).

As a result, the MNHRC can no longer take part in SEANF’s 23rd Annual Conference this year or any other SEANF meetings.

According to the statement, the MNHRC was notified in writing on Sept 1 and given the opportunity to respond. It was also invited to the Oct 1 board meeting at which the resolution was considered.

The Myanmar commission replied through a letter dated Sept 24 and a press statement issued on Sept 26, saying it rejected and disassociated itself from the review.

The board said the responses did not satisfactorily address the matters raised in the notice.

Under the amended Article 1 of the SEANF Rules of Procedure, a national human rights institution is defined as “an independent national institution that complies with the Paris Principles and holds a constitutional and/or legislative mandate to promote and protect human rights”.

SEANF said the MNHRC is free to reapply for membership once it can demonstrate discernible efforts towards compliance with the Paris Principles, as provided under Article 6(3) of the rules.

The forum stressed that the decision was made in a fair, transparent and evidence-based manner, in line with its rules and guided by the procedural best practices of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF).

It added that, as “A” status-accredited institutions, SEANF members share a collective responsibility to uphold the forum’s credibility, integrity and accountability, and to promote and protect human rights across the region in line with the Paris Principles.