ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission for Human Rights (AICHR) Chair Edmund Bon described the adoption of the Right to Development declaration and the ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment as “historic.”

“Two human rights declarations led by Malaysia,” he marvelled to Bernama. 

The declaration on Right to Development aligns ASEAN with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, by underscoring inclusivity, sustainability, and the protection of human rights as central to the region’s peace and prosperity.

Declaration on Environment meanwhile recognises a safe, clean and sustainable environment as a fundamental human right.

“This declaration, I think, is a milestone because it, for the first time, acknowledges the need to have greater protection for vulnerable groups, including indigenous communities, persons with disabilities, women, children, and communities that are really impacted by climate change and the hazards of the weather and environment.

“Why is this significant? We are marrying the human rights lens with the environmental approach. So it's no longer just an environmental approach, it's also looking at it, how it impacts the people and the planet more specifically,” said Bon.

The declaration commits ASEAN nations to strengthen environmental laws, ensure public participation in decision-making, and provide access to justice in environmental matters, especially for those in vulnerable situations.

It also seeks to protect the environment for present and future generations in line with the United Nations, the ASEAN Charter, and other international agreements member states are party to.

It also encourages businesses and non-state actors to adopt responsible practices and use risk assessment tools, such as environmental impact assessments, to prevent and mitigate harm.

-- BERNAMA