The Indigenous World 2026: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Written on 22 April 2026. Posted in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967 with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by its founding fathers, five of the now 10 Member States: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The other five Member States joined later: Brunei Darussalam on 7 January 1984, followed by Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999. The ASEAN Leaders signified a consensus to admit Timor Leste as ASEAN’s 11^th Member State in October 2025.^[1] The ASEAN Secretariat Building is located in Jakarta, Indonesia. It serves as the headquarters for the ASEAN Secretariat.

The ASEAN Charter was adopted in November 2007 and came into force in December 2008. It is the legally binding agreement among the Member States that provides ASEAN with a legal status and institutional framework.

ASEAN’s fundamental principles, more commonly known as the “ASEAN Way”, are founded on non-interference, respect for sovereignty and decision-making by consensus. Although lauded by the ASEAN Member States (AMS), this latter principle has been considered a major challenge in moving things forward, particularly within the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC).

Despite there being around 100 million people identifying as Indigenous in Southeast Asia,^[2] Indigenous Peoples’ terms are “sensitive” topics within the AMS. As such, issues involving Indigenous Peoples’ human rights defenders (IPHRDs) rarely make it to the discussion table. However, the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue was initiated in 2013, inviting different stakeholders and fostering openness among the AMS to discuss human rights issues in the region.

This article is part of the 40^th edition of The Indigenous World, a yearly overview produced by IWGIA that serves to document and report on the developments Indigenous Peoples have experienced. Find The Indigenous World 2026 in full here

ASEAN peace and security: advancing the right to peace through human rights engagement

ASEAN has long had a central role in conflict prevention, management and peacebuilding efforts in Southeast Asia. It has focused on dialogue, confidence building, and quiet diplomacy, guided by the principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter^[3]—particularly non-interference, consensus-based decision-making, and respect for sovereignty—, to secure peace and stability in the region. Following this, initiatives under Priority Programme 2025 of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) were initiated to reinforce the peace and human rights linkages in the region.

On 1–2 July 2025, AICHR held its programme on the right to peace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which saw the launch of AICHR's Thematic Study on the Right to Peace^[4] alongside the AICHR Regional Training Programme on Human Rights. The training programme underlines how conflict and human rights intersect such that, when conflict occurs in one place, all of ASEAN is affected; its flagship theme has now become “Pathways and Approaches to Peace in ASEAN”. The first workshop under this programme is entitled “Building Peace: From Conflict Prevention to Sustainable Peace”. The workshop laid the foundation for deeper regional discussions on how human rights-based approaches can contribute to long-term stability and peace in ASEAN Member States.

Responding to the changing geopolitical and security environment in the region, AICHR has launched six interconnected workshops aimed at drawing up ASEAN-specific pathways and conceptual frameworks for peace. These efforts are very much grounded in the provisions of the ASEAN Charter and the AICHR Terms of Reference and are sensitive to the principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs of ASEAN Member States. An additional workshop was held on 23 October 2025 in Selangor, Malaysia to assist stakeholders with a framework in which to discuss this initiative. The workshop hoped to promote meaningful dialogue and a cross-sharing of ideas while establishing an organized system for the documentation and retention of institutional memory surrounding conflict as a vector for human rights. In engaging in initiatives such as these, AICHR also tries to strengthen the collective power and capacity of ASEAN to deal with new challenges and promote peace through a human rights perspective.

ASEAN Peoples@ASEAN 2025: strengthening civil society engagement and Indigenous Peoples’ voices

The ASEAN Peoples@ASEAN 2025 event was convened by Malaysian civil society organizations (CSOs) in partnership with ASEAN civil society networks on 24 and 25 May 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event marked the first ASEAN Peoples’ Solidarity Event, building on more than a decade of advocacy and engagement led by the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (ACSC/APF), which has consistently brought critical human rights, governance, and development issues to the attention of ASEAN institutions and Member States.

The two-day event featured a diverse programme of workshops, exhibitions, forums, roundtable discussions, and research presentations, all aligned with ASEAN’s regional priorities. A grand opening ceremony formally launched the event, highlighting unity, cultural diversity, and regional cooperation. The gathering aimed to foster a shared sense of purpose among the peoples of ASEAN and to encourage active participation in advancing peace, prosperity, and sustainable development across the region.

Indigenous Peoples’ rights and contributions were a key focus of the event. A total of 51 participants consistently attended the Indigenous Rights sessions, reflecting strong interest and engagement. In collaboration with PACOS Trust, Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS), Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC), Save Rivers, Pertubuhan Wanita Orang Asal Malaysia (PWOAM), and other civil society partners, the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) provided full or partial support to 16 Indigenous participants, ensuring meaningful representation and participation.

The Indigenous Rights sessions attracted not only Indigenous representatives but also significant interest from non-indigenous participants, particularly during discussions on the roles of Indigenous Peoples in biodiversity protection and ecological conservation. These discussions highlighted Indigenous knowledge systems and community-based approaches as essential to addressing environmental and climate challenges in the ASEAN region.

In addition, as an organization holding consultative status with the AICHR, AIPP was invited to attend the launch of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN Vision 2045,^[5] further reinforcing the role of Indigenous Peoples and civil society in shaping ASEAN’s long-term regional vision. Unfortunately, the plan does not mention Indigenous Peoples.

4^th ASEAN–EU Civil Society Organizations Forum and Interface Meeting on Human Rights

The 4^th ASEAN–EU Civil Society Organizations Forum was convened on 13–14 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, bringing together 52 civil society organizations from ASEAN and the European Union (EU) to engage in constructive dialogue on regional and international human rights issues. The Forum was supported by the EU Delegation to ASEAN and provided an important platform for interaction between CSOs, AICHR, and representatives of the EU.

Over the two-day programme, participants exchanged experiences, shared insights, and developed recommendations^[6] aimed at promoting a more inclusive, accountable, and participatory human rights framework within ASEAN–EU cooperation. Discussions focused on strengthening civil society engagement, enhancing regional human rights mechanisms, and fostering collaborative approaches to address emerging and persistent human rights challenges in the region.

Following the CSOs Forum, an Interface Meeting between Civil Society Organizations, AICHR, and EU representatives was held on 15 October 2025, in conjunction with the 6^th ASEAN–EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for direct engagement between CSOs, AICHR representatives from Thailand and Indonesia, and EU officials, including the EU Ambassador to ASEAN.

AIPP participated in the Interface Meeting for the first time in person. During the discussions, AIPP raised key concerns regarding the recognition of Indigenous Peoples in ASEAN and expressed its interest in contributing to the development of the Regional Action Plan on the ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment. AIPP’s participation contributed to advancing Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives within ASEAN–EU human rights and environmental policy dialogues.

Overall, the Forum and Interface Meeting served as effective platforms for strengthening ASEAN–EU cooperation on human rights and for amplifying civil society and Indigenous Peoples’ voices in regional policy processes.

Advancing business and human rights in ASEAN–EU cooperation: reflections from the 6^th ASEAN–EU Policy Dialogue side event

As part of the 6^th ASEAN–EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights, a dedicated side event entitled “ASEAN–EU Dialogue on Intensifying Actions and Overcoming Barriers in Implementing Business and Human Rights and Environment in ASEAN and the EU” was convened on 16 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event brought together policymakers, civil society actors, and experts to examine concrete pathways for strengthening accountability and implementation of business and human rights standards across both regions.

AIPP participated as a speaker on Mandatory Human Rights and Environment Due Diligence (mHREDD). The event highlighted new initiatives in regulation, implementation challenges, and recommendations for regional alignments by which to change international human rights and environmental benchmarks. AIPP emphasized that addressing systemic human rights and environmental harms to Indigenous Peoples, such as those committed by extractive industries, agribusiness, infrastructure development, and transnational supply chains in ASEAN, is a priority area for the integration of mHREDD into the work plan.

Undertaking due diligence frameworks that not only comply with procedural requirements but which also meaningfully incorporate Indigenous Peoples’ rights must include the rights to self-determination, land and territorial rights, and the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), AIPP stressed. The discussion highlighted the need for ASEAN and EU action on business and human rights to have coherence, especially as binding due diligence mandates take root in the EU and will impact global standards.

Panellists and participants considered the following as barriers to effective implementation: gaps in enforcement, lack of access to remedy for affected communities, and the need for stronger safeguards for human rights defenders. AIPP's engagement helped advance a rights-based and people-centred view in the ASEAN–EU policy discussion, highlighting the importance of including Indigenous Peoples as stakeholders for better, accountable, and sustainable business practices.

The sessions also created space for dialogue and were an invaluable opportunity for advocates and policymakers to discuss the practicalities of using the mHREDD as a mechanism for preventing harm, and for promoting accountability in both regions' strategies for mHREDD.

AIPP welcomes ASEAN human rights declarations, calls for rights-based implementation

ASEAN’s Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment, and the ASEAN Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and the Right to Peace Towards Realizing Inclusive and Sustainable Development were adopted by the members of ASEAN as a result of the 47^th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (26–28 October 2025). The declarations are welcomed^[7] by AIPP as significant steps that reaffirm ASEAN’s commitment to human rights and sustainable development.

AIPP advocates for the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples’ rights by ASEAN and AICHR members when implementing and enforcing the declarations at all levels. In response to these declarations, while taking note of the statement made by the UN experts on 30 October 2025, concerns were raised regarding the use of the term “indigenous” “instead of the internationally recognized term ‘Indigenous Peoples’”.^[8] It was also emphasized that referring to “Indigenous Peoples” alongside “local communities” in the declarations should not suggest that both groups enjoy the same rights under international law. AIPP has also been worried that Indigenous Peoples are still portrayed as “vulnerable groups” or “stakeholders” rather than rights holders and environmental stewards, a view which diverges from the promise enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). This gap requires addressing urgently, and AIPP urges both ASEAN and AICHR to work towards a more inclusive, rights-based implementation.

This article was written by Frederic Wilson, an Indigenous Dusun Putih Llivagu from Sabah, Malaysia. He is currently Programme Officer for the Human Rights Campaign and Policy Advocacy (HRCPA) programme at the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) and Chairperson for the Asia steering group members of the Zero Tolerance Initiative (ZTI). Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This article is part of the 40^th edition of The Indigenous World, a yearly overview produced by IWGIA that serves to document and report on the developments Indigenous Peoples have experienced. Find The Indigenous World 2026 in full here

Notes and references

^[1] Association of Southeast Asia Asian Nations (ASEAN). “Forging a New Era: Timor Leste Admitted into ASEAN”. 26 October 2025. https://asean.org/forging-a-new-era-timor-leste-admitted-into-asean/

^[2] Two-thirds of the approximately 370 million Indigenous Peoples in the world live in Asia but no accurate data is available on the Indigenous population of the ASEAN region as few Member States take their Indigenous identities into consideration and they are, therefore, not visible in national censuses.

^[3] Association of Southeast Asia Asian Nations (ASEAN). “The ASEAN Charter”. January 2008. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/images/archive/publications/ASEAN-Charter.pdf

^[4] ASEAN Intergovernmental Commissioner on Human Rights (AICHR). “The Right To Peace: ASEAN perspectives and prospects”. 2025. https://aichr.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-AICHR-Thematic-Study-The-Right-to-Peace.pdf

^[5] ASEAN. “Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future”. 26 May 2025. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/04.-Kuala-Lumpur-Declaration-on-ASEAN-2045-Our-Shared-Future_adopted.pdf  

^[6] Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP). “Indigenous Peoples call for recognition in the ASEAN-EU CSO Forum in conjunction with the 6^th ASEAN -EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights”. 16 October 2025. https://aippnet.org/indigenous-peoples-call-recognition-asean-eu-csos-forum-conjunction-6th-asean-eu-polcy-dialogue-human-rights/

^[7]AIPP. “AIPP Congratulates the adoption of the ASEAN Declaration”. 18 November 2025. https://aippnet.org/aipp-press-statement-on-asean-declaration/

^[8] United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). “UN experts welcome landmark ASEAN Declaration on right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment”. 30 October 2025. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/10/un-experts-welcome-landmark-asean-declaration-right-safe-clean-healthy-and

Tags: Global governance