Peace Palace, Phnom Penh
17 November 2012

In a statement during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said that the Philippines had taken a strong position on the concerns raised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration is lacking in many areas compared with international standards.

Sec. Del Rosario requested to have an official ASEAN commitment to ensure that the implementation of the Declaration will be in accordance with international human rights standards and instruments as a condition to joining the consensus. This commitment will now be reflected in the Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, which will be signed by the leaders during the 21st ASEAN Summit on November 18.

The 8th Meeting of the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council meanwhile underscored the progress and important developments of the ASEAN sectoral bodies under the APSC Blueprint since its last meeting on April 2 this year. The meeting also deliberated on how ASEAN would continue to further accelerate the implementation of the priority areas under the APSC Blueprint, which would contribute in ensuring peace and stability in the region and the world. The 11th Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) followed after the APSC Council meeting.

A signing ceremony on the Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia by the Federative Republic of Brazil, and Instrument of Extension of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia was also held.

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