It was unsurprising that the launch of the new Human Rights Commission of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was so ill-attended. Not only did leaders of several member states not bother to show for the ceremony; civil society leaders also walked out in protest.

And who can blame them? Southeast Asian rights advocates point out that
the commission lacks a few basics: the ability to accept complaints, to conduct independent
investigations, and to sanction member states.

According to the terms of reference, which make for entertaining light reading (and we do mean light), one of the core principles of the
commission is “non-interference in the internal affairs of ASEAN member
states.” It’s the kind of defensive posture China’s leaders have unfortunately taken in
regards to international criticism of its own human rights record. China’s rise has successfully made this rhetoric
legitimate for such countries as Myanmar (Burma), which routinely parrots the language. Now ASEAN has made “non-interference in human rights” a matter of regional policy.

Apparently, the non-interference principle extends to human rights NGOs
in ASEAN member states, who will also not be permitted to interfere — that is, consult on —
the selection of commissioners.

But kudos to our colleagues in Southeast Asia who have lobbied long and hard to give this toothless regional rights body at least a functioning set of dentures.

The fact that ASEAN has felt the need to establish such a commission at all is evidence of the growing clout of rights advocates in Asia.