FM MARSUDI DISCUSSES HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN ASEAN MEETING

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi (Photo: nasionalinfo)

Jakarta, 21 Shawwal 1436/6 August 2015 (MINA) – The ASEAN community should ensure maximum benefits for the people by strengthening efforts towards human rights protection, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno L P. Marsudi said at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting.

According to a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry and received by ANTARA News here on Wednesday, the minister supports the strengthening of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights to reinforce human rights protection in the ASEAN region, Antara News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Minister Marsudi also proposed the division of human rights in the ASEAN Secretariat.

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“The promotion and protection of human rights is one of the main issues that member states of ASEAN must fight for,” she emphasized.

She also stated that the protection of migrant workers was an important issue in the context of promotion of human rights protection, which has direct impacts on most people in the region.

To that end, she affirmed, the Indonesian government continues to encourage member states of ASEAN to resolve issues faced by legal instruments, to strengthen the protection of the rights of migrant workers.

Moreover, the Indonesian government also proposed at the meeting the issuance of a “Joint Statement of ASEAN Foreign Affairs Ministers on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers.” This will provide political impetus to the settlement of legal instruments problems regarding the protection of migrant workers in the region.

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In addition, Marsudi raised several other important issues, such as the legal action taken against illegal fishing and granting ASEAN membership to Timor-Leste.

The Indonesian government also asked for support from fellow ASEAN members regarding its nomination as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2019-2020 period.

Marsudi attended the 48th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, which was officially opened by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

In his opening speech, Razak emphasized that ASEAN was the most important regional organization in the Asia-Pacific region. (T/P010/RO6)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)