APHR was founded in June 2013 with the objective of promoting democracy and human rights in all ASEAN states. It represents a regional response to human rights concerns, utilizing the specific characteristics and abilities of parliamentarians and other influential persons to advocate for the protection of human rights throughout ASEAN.

APHR founding members include many of the region’s most progressive parliamentarians with a proven track record of human rights advocacy work. It also counts among its advisors senior statesmen and highly influential and respected individuals that traverse political and national divides.

Among the organizations founding members are: Eva Kusuma Sundari (Indonesia), Charles Chong (Singapore), Walden Bello (Philippines), Son Chhay (Cambodia), Kraisak Choonhavan (Thailand), Lim Kit Siang (Malaysia), and Charles Santiago (Malaysia).

Key advisors include: Hasan Wirajuda (Indonesia), Marzuki Darusman (Indonesia), Vitit Muntharborn (Thailand), Sriprapha Petcharemesree (Thailand) and Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Malaysia).

Mission

APHR seeks to create an ASEAN region that allows space for people to live in dignity and free from all forms of discrimination and violence, where human rights is at the center of development, and strong national and regional institutions exist that are transparent and accountable to the people.

Every day, countless people across Southeast Asia become victims of human rights violations. For many, justice and accountability appear out of reach, and the individual governments of the ten ASEAN member states regularly fail the more marginalized in their societies. While civil society in many places is strong, and there is a genuine desire to move towards more progressive rule in many nations, there is also strong resistance to change from entrenched powers.

APHR was born out of the recognition of this struggle and desire from progressive legislators across the region to work together to support a move to more equitable societies that promote and protect human rights.