The federal government announced today the appointment of Edmund Bon Tai Soon as the new Representative of Malaysia to the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) for the term 2016-2018.

Bon succeeds Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who had served as the first representative of Malaysia to the AICHR for two consecutive terms, beginning from 2010 until 2015.

Bon read law at University College of London and holds a Master’s degree in International Human Rights Law from University of Oxford, United Kingdom. He is currently the Head of Chambers (Civil), practising under AmerBON Advocates.

Currently a member of Bar Council Malaysia, Bon previously chaired a number of committees under the flagship of the Bar Council, such as the committees on Constitutional Law, National Young Lawyers and Human Rights.

With vast experience and exposure in high-profile public interest litigation over the past 18 years, the government in a statement today said the appointment of Bon is a strong manifestation of its desire to bring human rights and fundamental freedoms issues at the forefront of Asean’s agenda through the AICHR.

The AICHR was established in 2009, under Article 14 of the Asean Charter. It is one of the Asean organisations with a cross-cutting mandate for the promotion and protection of human rights in the region.

As an intergovernmental body that reports directly to the Asean foreign ministers, the AICHR plays a key role in setting the tone for human rights cooperation with other Asean organisations, such as the Asean Sectoral Bodies and related external parties.

- Bernama