THE Second Technical Working Group Meeting of the South-East Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) for 2026, together with its side event, was held in hybrid format from 21 to 22 July 2026, hosted by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), the alternate chair of the Forum, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Following the meeting, side visits were conducted on 23 July 2026 as part of the Forum’s programme.
Representatives from SEANF member National Human Rights Institutions, namely the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP), the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT), and the Provedor for Human Rights and Justice of Timor-Leste (PDHJ), attended the meeting in person. Meanwhile, representatives from the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) as well as Commission members U Win Hlaing Oo and Dr Swe Swe Aung, along with the Deputy Director-General of the Commission’s Office, the Director of the International Relations Division, and staff from the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), participated in the meeting via video conferencing.
On the first day of the meeting, participants discussed a range of topics, including updates on major developments and activities since the First Technical Working Group Meeting of the SEANF, as well as the implementation progress of the five priority areas of the 2022-2026 SEANF Strategic Plan by the respective lead commissions. In addition, participants discussed progress on the ASEAN Declaration on the Rights to a Safe, Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment, ongoing efforts towards the development of a legally binding instrument on the rights of older persons, developments in the field of Business and Human Rights, and matters relating to the establishment of the Inter-NHRI Inquiry Mechanism. Following these discussions, representatives from the Indonesia National Commission on Human Rights, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, and the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines presented updates on the Joint Research Framework and Terms of Reference on Cross-Border Movement, Statelessness, and Human Rights in Sabah, an initiative being implemented under the Memorandum of Understanding signed among the three National Human Rights Institutions.
At the meeting, U Win Hlaing Oo, Commissioner of the MNHRC, presented the major developments and activities of MNHRC on promotion and protection of human rights since the First Technical Working Group Meeting of the SEANF. Dr Khine Khine Win, Deputy Director General of the Commission’s Office, also shared updates on the MNHRC’s leadership in Priority No 2 of the SEANF Strategic Plan: “Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in Business.”
On the morning of the second day, participants discussed matters relating to cooperation within the Forum, including preparations for the convening of the 23rd SEANF Annual Meeting.
At the meeting, the delegation of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission raised for discussion the acceptance of the Forum’s rotating chairmanship for the year 2027.
In the afternoon, the Forum convened a related side event entitled “Forum on Refugees and Trafficking in Persons Crisis in the South-East Asia Region – Challenges and Opportunities for Regional Cooperation.”
During the side event, interactive discussions were conducted under the themes of “Understanding Refugees and Human Trafficking in South-East Asia: Causes, Trends, and Protection Challenges” and “Protection Gaps and Access to Justice for Refugees and Victims of Trafficking”, in which the Commission participated and contributed.
The South-East Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) was established in 2009, and the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission joined as a forum member in 2012. — MNA
