Human rights commissions from four Asean member countries are taking steps to formalise a 'consultation mechanism' to foster greater cooperation among them.

Thus far, an informal coalition of human rights commissions from Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia have met on several occasions to discuss trans-boundaries human rights issues.

The group hopes to eventually encourage the formation of an intergovernmental human rights mechanism in the Asean region.

Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) commissioner Ranita Mohd Hussein said that the consultation mechanism would allow greater cooperation between commissions.

She was speaking at a press conference after the conclusion of the second formal meeting between the four commissions, dubbed the Asean National Human Rights Institutions Consultation Mechanism.

Long road ahead

Following the meeting, Suhakam will chair the consultation mechanism and set up thematic commissions to tackle trans-boundary human rights issues, starting with rights of women and children.

However, establishing a truly regional body would prove a challenge, as only four out of ten Asean member countries have established a human rights commission.

"But we hope, as and when human rights commissions are established in other Asean countries, they will see the benefit of joining our loose group," added Ranita.

She said that among other issues, the consultation mechanism will focus on human rights education, economic migrants, human trafficking, cultural rights and terrorism.

Thus far, intergovernmental regional human rights mechanism exists in the Americas, Africa and Europe.