In 2009, ASEAN created the Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). Many NGOs and experts have expressed skepticism about the likely effectiveness of the AICHR given the mixed human rights records of ASEAN member states. There is no doubt that sober and realistic assessments are justified. From a broader perspective, however, one can also argue that the present juncture presents important opportunities for genuine, if gradual, progress on human rights in ASEAN. David Cohen discusses ASEAN's AICHR and civil society initiatives in Southeast Asia.

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