AICHR quartet breaks convention with message on haze

Four members of the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) has jointly reminded member states to commit to a 2002 treaty to ensure the region is haze-free by 2020.

The call was made through a joint-statement by AICHR representatives Eric Paulsen (Malaysia), Hla Myint (Myanmar), Shashi Jayakumar (Singapore) and Amara Pongsapich (Thailand).

This was a rare statements issued by a small bloc of Asean representatives, which normally would only take positions upon arriving at a consensus between all 10 member states.

"We urge all member states to work together for a more effective and sustainable solution to the haze, and to ensure that all citizens can enjoy their human rights to the fullest," said the group.

They explained that poor air quality impinged the rights to life, the right to the highest attainable standard of health, and the right to a clean environment.

In 2002, Asean had established the Roadmap on Asean Cooperation towards Transboundary Haze Pollution Control with Means of Implementation, with its vision to be haze-free by 2020.

It was only ratified by all 10 member states in 2014.

The statement by the four diplomats follow the 15th Asean ministerial meeting on the environment and the 15th meeting of the conference of parties to the Asean agreement on transboundary haze pollution on Oct 8 and Oct 9 in Siem Reap, Cambodia.