National Human Rights Institutions in Southeast Asia

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxv

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2. Introduction: National Human Rights Institutions in Southeast Asia: Challenges to the Protection of Human Rights

   • James Gomez, Robin Ramcharan

   Pages 1-17

3. Southeast Asian NHRIs: Regional and Global Perspectives

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 19-19

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   2. National Human Rights Institutions: From Idea to Implementation

      • Michael J. V. White

      Pages 21-35

   3. National Human Rights Institutions in Southeast Asian States: The Necessary Foundation for an Efficient ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights

      • Céline Martin

      Pages 37-54

   4. National Human Rights Institutions and the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Body System: A Rebuttal to the Skeptics

      • Domenico Zipoli

      Pages 55-80

4. Protection Challenges in Southeast Asian States

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 81-81

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   2. Assessing the Effectiveness of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission in the Wider Regional Geo-Political Context

      • Niki Esse de Lang

      Pages 83-120

   3. From Transition to Government Accountability: Opportunities for the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission

      • Francesca Paola Traglia

      Pages 121-140

   4. Komnas HAM: Discrepancies Between Its Mandate and the Indonesian Constitutional Framework

      • Nukila Evanty

      Pages 141-162

   5. Strengthening Komnas HAM and Building Synergies with Other National State Institutions on Human Rights

      • Inosentius Samsul

      Pages 163-181

   6. The Protection Capacities of NHRIs in the Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste

      • James Gomez, Robin Ramcharan

      Pages 183-201

   7. Advocating for a National Human Rights Institution in Singapore

      • James Gomez, Michelle D’cruz

      Pages 203-219

5. Thematic Perspectives on NHRI in Southeast Asia

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 221-221

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   2. Mental Health and Human Rights: The Role of Komnas HAM

      • Kimberly Clair

      Pages 223-239

   3. Bridging Gaps and Hopes: Malaysia’s National Human Rights Commission and Rights Related to SOGIESC

      • Henry Koh

      Pages 241-259

   4. Komnas HAM and the Land Rights of Indigenous Peoples: National Inquiry as a New Mechanism for the Settlement of Disputes

      • Isnenningtyas Yulianti

      Pages 261-282

   5. The Protection Capacities of NHRIs

      • James Gomez, Robin Ramcharan

      Pages 283-290

6. Back Matter

   Pages 291-300

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This book reviews Southeast Asia’s National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) as part of an emerging assessment of a nascent regional human rights architecture that is facing significant challenges in protecting human rights. The book asks, can NHRIs overcome its weaknesses and provide protection, including remedies, to victims of human rights abuses? Assessing NHRIs’ capacity to do so is vital as the future of human rights protection lies at the national level, and other parts of the architecture—the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), and the international mechanism of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)—though helpful, also have their limitations. The critical question the book addresses is whether NHRIs individually or collaboratively provide protection of fundamental human rights. The body of work offered in this book showcases the progress of the NHRIs in Southeast Asia where they also act as a barometer for the fluid political climate of their respectivecountries. Specifically, the book examines the NHRIs’ capacity to provide protection, notably through the pursuit of quasi-judicial functions, and concludes that this function has either been eroded due to political developments post-establishment or has not been included in the first place. The book’s findings point to the need for NHRIs to increase their effectiveness in the protection of human rights and invites readers and stakeholders to find ways of addressing this gap.

• NHRIs
• NHRIs in Southeast Asia
• Human Rights Protection and Southeast Asia
• NHRIs and ASEAN
• NHRIs and AICHR
• NHRIs and the United Nations
• NHRIs and Universal Periodic Review
• NHRI in Indonesia
• NHRI in Malaysia
• NHRI in Myanmar
• NHRI and SOEGIESEC
• NHRI and Mental Health
• NHRIs and Economic Rights
• NHRIs and Social Rights
• NHRIs and Cultural Rights

• 128/183 Phayathai Plaza Building, Asia Centre, Bangkok, Thailand

  James Gomez, Robin Ramcharan

James Gomez is Regional Director, Asia Centre (Bangkok, Thailand and Johor Bahru, Malaysia) - a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to create human rights impact in the region. Dr.Gomez is a communications and human rights specialist having served in different academic and leadership roles in the last 25 years working for international NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, public and private universities, research institutes and think-tanks. He represents the Centre in media and public speaking engagements and builds relationships with key stakeholders around the world. 



Robin Ramcharan is Executive Director, Asia Centre, Bangkok, Thailand. He specialises in human rights, intellectual property and security issues in Southeast Asia. Dr. Ramcharan is also Professor of International Relations with an extensive teaching and publications record. He has worked over the past two decades in the not-for profit sector, international organisations, the private sector and in research institutes and think tanks. In Bangkok, Dr. Ramcharan represents the Centre in interaction with external partners and oversees the various research and publication projects.

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