Southeast Asian nations have adopted a controversial human rights declaration at their summit in Cambodia. Critics say loopholes will enable authoritarian regimes to suppress citizens by citing national security.
Leaders of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed the joint declaration, claiming it would enshrine human rights for the region’s 600 million citizens.
“It’s a legacy for our children,” said Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario but Human Rights Watch’s deputy Asia director Phil Robertson was scathing.
“Our worst fears in this process have come to pass,” said Robertson.
“Rather than meeting international standards, this declaration lowers them by creating new loopholes and justifications that ASEAN member states can use to justify abusing the rights of their people,” Robertson added.
Read more: http://www.dw.de/asean-adopts-controversial-human-rights-declaration/a-16387552
