OPDs Make Impactful Contributions at 5th AICHR Human Rights Dialogue

On November 6, the voices of persons with disabilities resonated at the 5th ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Human Rights Dialogue, held at the ASEAN Secretariat building in Jakarta. Three Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) holding consultative status with AICHR, namely the Indonesian People with Disabilities Association, Thailand Association of the Blind, and Malaysian Council on Disabilities, participated actively in the dialogue. The event served as a crucial platform for AICHR representatives to report on human rights progress in their respective countries and foster constructive discussions among AICHR, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), and civil society organizations (CSOs). During the session moderated by H.E. Yuyun Wahyuningrum, the Indonesian representative and chair of the AICHR, Tolhas Damanik, representing OPDs, utilized the allocated 3-minute time frame to present four significant statements to AICHR representatives. These statements included advocating for the institutionalization of AICHR regional dialogues to enhance inclusivity, urging AICHR’s involvement in observing and providing feedback for the Mid-term Review of the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025 with a focus on disability rights and inclusion, emphasizing the need for AICHR to facilitate dialogue between OPD representatives and the High Level Task Force developing the new ASEAN Blueprint 2025-2045, and calling for the continued conduct of capacity-building initiatives by AICHR, specifically aimed at mainstreaming disability rights and inclusion within ASEAN sectoral bodies.