The United States welcomes the October 19 launch of the Human Rights Resource Center for ASEAN (HRRCA) in Jakarta, Indonesia. Established in Indonesia and funded with support from the Department of State along with other dialogue partners, the HRRCA will pursue research, training, teaching, capacity building, and raising awareness of human rights issues and the rule of law throughout the ASEAN region. The Center will be based at the University of Indonesia and serve as a hub for universities around the region to support the promotion of human rights, including universities in Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Partner institutions include University of Indonesia, Mahidol University (Thailand), Pannasastra University (Cambodia), Ateneo University School of Law (Philippines), University of Malaya (Malaysia), National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University.

The United States applauds ASEAN’s growing focus on respect for human rights and good governance as reflected in the ratification of the ASEAN Charter in 2008 and the establishment of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights in 2009. The Department of State looks forward to supporting the Center in its completion of a baseline study of human rights and the rule of law status throughout the region.