The AICHR Workshop on the Implementation of Human Rights Obligations Relating to the Environment and Climate Change was organised by the Representative of Myanmar to the AICHR with the support of the European Union through the Regional EU – ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (READI) facility from 26 to 27 September 2015 in Mandalay, Myanmar.
The Workshop was attended by approximately 60 participants from amongst the AICHR representatives, government officials from the ASEAN Member States, experts from other regions, representatives from the Civil Society Organisations, representatives from ASEAN sectoral bodies and the ASEAN Secretariat. The list of participants and the programme of activities appear in Annexes 1 and 2 of this report, respectively.
2. The Workshop is designed to serve a number of purposes. Generally, it seeks to further increase the awareness of ASEAN and stakeholders on the relationship between human rights, environment and climate change and create a platform for relevant stakeholders to exchange views and experiences of current good practices employed by ASEAN Member States in the implementation of human rights obligations relating to the environment/climate change.
More specifically, the multi-stakeholder platform it creates is intended to generate ways and means for relevant ASEAN bodies and organs to further mainstream human-rights based approach to ASEAN environmental policy making and protection and further develop capacities of relevant stakeholders and strategies towards a framework for ASEAN in addressing human rights adherence to ensure environmental protection and reduce climate change impacts.
3. The Mandalay Workshop is the second consecutive occasion in which the AICHR addresses the issue of environment and climate change and in particular the linkages between these two subjects and human rights since its inception in 2009. The first workshop was organized in 2014 in Yangon, Myanmar. The 2015 Workshop attests to an endeavour by the AICHR to organise a programme of activities related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the
goals on climate action, sustainable cities and communities, and life on land. At the time the report for the workshop was finalised (in September 2016), the AICHR had already adopted the third follow-up activity on human rights, environment and climate change to be co-hosted by
Myanmar and Thailand, clearly illustrating the programmatic approach of the AICHR toward the agenda on human rights and the environment.
4. The Representative of Thailand to the AICHR continues to serve as the rapporteur for the human rights and environment workshop. For the Mandalay Workshop, he was assisted by a number of individuals, including note takers in Myanmar and staff members from the ASEAN Secretariat. Most importantly, he wishes to acknowledge the assistance rendered by Dr. Wanun Permpibul, Director of Climate Watch Thailand, who prepared the first draft of the
Rapporteur’s Report.