The Appointment of New Representatives of Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam and the Re-appointment of Representatives to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)

Posted on: 13 February, 2013, http://aichr.org/news/the-appointment-of-new-representatives-of-lao-pdr-thailand-and-viet-nam-and-the-re-appointment-of-representatives-to-the-asean-intergovernmental-commission-on-human-rights-aichr/ 

Pursuant to Article 5.2 of the Term of Reference (TOR) of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) – which states that “Each Member State shall appoint a Representative to the AICHR who shall be accountable to the appointing Government” – the governments of three ASEAN Member States have recently announced the appointment of their new respective Representatives to the AICHR for the term 2013-2015.

H.E. Mr. Phoukhong Sisoulath, formerly the Alternate Representative of Lao PDR, has been officially appointed as the new Representative of Lao PDR to AICHR replacing H.E. Mr. Bounkeut Sangsomsak. Further, H E. Dr. Seree Nonthasoot, a member of the Drafting Group for the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, has been appointed to replace H.E. Dr. Sriprapha Petcharamesree as the Representative of Thailand. Finally, the government Viet Nam has appointed H.E. Ms. Le Thi Thu as their new Representative to AICHR, succeeding H.E. Amb. Nguyen Duy Hung.

Several AICHR Representatives have also been re-appointed. The Representatives who have been re-appointed are H.E. Pehin Dato’ Dr. Awang Hj. Ahmad bin Hj. Jumat (Chair, Representative of Brunei Darussalam), H.E. Dato’ Sri Dr. Muhammad Shafee Abdullah (Representative of Malaysia), H.E. Amb. Kyaw Tint Swe (Representative of Myanmar), and H.E. Amb. Rosario G. Manalo (Representative of the Philippines). Cambodia is in the process of selecting their Representative to AICHR.

Public Announcement on ACSC/APF 2013 in Brunei Darussalam

On 19th February 2013, It was publicly announced that The Council of Women of Brunei Darussalam (CWBD) with the support of the Civil Society Organisations of Brunei Darussalam will be hosting the ACSC/APF 2013 at LR ASMA Hotel, Jalan Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam from 6-8 April. 

A National Organising Committee was set up in December 2012 to plan and organised the ACSC/APF 2013. 

Attached herewith is the First Public Announcement of the ACSC/APF 2013 for your information and reference.  the two-day agenda for the meeting as soon as it is finalized. 


Downloadable links:
ACSC 2013 First Public Annoucement, (revised)
Registration Form ACSC 2013

United We Stand, Together We Can Make it Happen!

One in three women on the planet will be raped or beaten in her lifetime means that one billion women violated which is in itself is an atrocity and a fact that cannot be ignored and allow to take place globally much less in our own backyard.

Considering Cambodia statistics on violence again women places the incidences at one in four women experiences violence in their lifetime, we should count ourselves fortunate, but the battle to combat the elimination of violence against women and girls is far from over.

This on 14th February 2013,CWC Members, CYWA Volunteers, CYWEN activist join fellow women's rights activist in an around Phnom Penh to say NO to Violence during the One Billion Rising will be held in Cambodia as part of the global One Billion Rising campaign which invited ONE BILLION women and those who love them to WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and publicly DEMAND an End to Violence against Women.

Globally women activist joined together and with the world (197 countries) to dance as an act of solidarity, demonstrating to women the commonality of their struggles and their power in numbers and a refusal to accept violence against women and girls.

Mrs. Thida Khus, SILAKA Executive Director gave a moving and highly motivational speech during the opening of the milestone event held at Freedom Park on what is internationally recognized as Valentines Day. A day where people all over the world show their appreciation and love for people in their lives. 

Cambodia After ASEAN

PUBLISHED: 10-FEB-13 08:14AM | BY BY WILLIAM E. TODD

http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/opinion/detail/3?token=ZDg2MmVhYWYwYmQ1ZGIyMmQxMTM5OTRiMjcyMWE3

By William E. Todd

First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone for the many questions you have asked these last couple of weeks.  The reason I enjoy writing this column so much is because of all the interesting feedback I get from my readers so please continue to send your questions to me at AskAMB...@state.gov. 

A topic that has been raised several times recently by my readers is Cambodia’s international role.  Some of you are wondering how Cambodia will continue to be important in world affairs now that it has concluded its chairmanship of ASEAN.  Leaders from across the globe came to Cambodia last year to participate in ASEAN meetings, but that won’t happen again this year.  So how does Cambodia stay relevant?

Like you, I want to see Cambodia continue to raise its international profile.  I want Cambodia to stay “in the spotlight.”  If international players continue to pay attention to Cambodia, I believe there will be more positive changes for Cambodia in the years ahead. 

You will remember my recent column about the trips I took to Singapore and Thailand in order to promote investment opportunities in Cambodia.  I am planning more trips like those.  I will continue talking to American companies about the vibrant economic environment here.  Cambodia is becoming more and more hospitable to business, and I want more people to know about it.

Also, in the next few months, I will be hosting a number of high-level U.S. officials, whose visits demonstrate the importance that the United States continues to place on its relationship with Cambodia and its people.  Let me tell you briefly about three of these visitors.

U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu will lead a delegation, which will also include three members of Congress, to meet with Cambodian officials and other representatives to see how our two countries can strengthen our ability to work together on child welfare issues.  Senator Landrieu is a strong advocate for the protection and well-being of children and families.  In particular, Senator Landrieu wants to see how we can ensure that children outside of family care can find permanent, loving families.  One way to do this is through intercountry adoptions.   As a signatory to the Hague Adoption Convention, an international agreement to establish safeguards to ensure that intercountry adoptions take place in the best interests of the child, Cambodia has made commitments to strengthen its systems for processing such adoptions.  Cambodia is making good progress toward this goal, and I am sure Senator Landrieu’s visit will play an important role in helping Cambodia further along.

I am also looking forward to the visit of Lieutenant General Thomas Conant, the Deputy Commander of U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM).  Approximately 325,000 military and civilian personnel – about one-fifth of total U.S. military strength – are assigned to PACOM, which has an area of responsibility that covers nearly half the earth’s surface, stretching from the waters off the U.S. West Coast to the western border of India, and from Antarctica to the North Pole.  General Conant’s meetings in Cambodia will highlight the growing cooperation between the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the U.S. military.  This cooperation has already led to the sharing of knowledge and experience between our two militaries across a range of important activities, including peacekeeping operations, maritime security, and military professionalization.  General Conant’s visit to Cambodia will focus attention on Cambodia’s role as a responsible regional partner and one that is actively engaged in UN peacekeeping and demining efforts.

The third visitor I want to mention is Assistant Secretary Michael Posner, the head of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.  As such, he will be coming to Cambodia to learn more about the current Cambodian situation on these issues and how the United States can help Cambodia take steps to strengthen its democratic process and provide greater protection of human rights and labor rights for its people as the country seeks to demonstrate to the world that it is serious about free and fair elections, good governance, and respect for the rule of law.

In the months ahead, the U.S. Embassy will continue to work to promote Cambodia’s role in international affairs.  We believe that Cambodia will remain the focus of international attention as it implements positive changes and continues its development.  That is why my staff and I are working hard to help Cambodia promote foreign investment, improve its system for intercountry adoptions, enhance the professionalization of its armed forces, and strengthen democracy and good governance. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my column this week.  Please remember that it is meant to be a two-way exchange, so I encourage you to send me your questions in English or Khmer at AskAMB...@state.gov and to follow my blog at http://blogs.usembassy.gov/todd/.

William E. Todd is U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia