ASEAN lawmakers commit to ‘thought leader’ stance amid democratic decline, worsening climate crisis in the region during annual forum

MANILA, 9 December 2025—Members of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) vowed to level up their regional presence and leadership in the face of serious democratic decline and worsening impacts of climate crisis in Southeast Asia during their recently concluded Members’ Forum held in the Philippine capital.

APHR members from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Timor Leste and the Philippines committed to achieve a “thought leader” status in the region in 2026 from just being advocates of human rights and sustainability.

“The effects of authoritarianism, conflicts and environmental plunder continue to take a heavy toll on ASEAN nations. APHR must rise to the challenge by pushing a more proactive ASEAN stance on issues,” Mercy Barends, APHR chair and Indonesian member of parliament.

“In the context of rising inequality and outbreak of people’s anger in several countries, APHR is in a critical juncture. We have been known to be an advocacy NGO. However, it’s time for change. APHR has to take on a bigger role, to become a thought leader in framing the discourse on human rights and democracy,” said APHR co-chair and Malaysian member of parliament Charles Santiago.

APHR has over 100 member-parliamentarians across the Southeast Asian region, including those who have been vocal opposition members in their respective countries.

The lawmakers who attended the event also pushed for a rethinking of the ASEAN principle of non-interference, insisting that “humanitarian intervention” is critically needed instead of inaction over rising rights abuses, catastrophic floods and subversion of democratic institutions across the region.

“We are on a critical juncture with the upcoming elections in Myanmar and Thailand, and the rising threats of artificial intelligence and digital authoritarianism on fundamental freedoms. We cannot be mere bystanders to these very crucial developments,” said Santiago.

APHR said it will lobby for the crafting of resolution by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Committee on Human Rights (AICHR) on digital rights and artificial intelligence to address to concerns on rising disinformation and prevalence of scam centers.

Among the key resolutions from the two-day Members’ Forum are: setup of a Parliamentarians’ Working Group on AI and digital rights, more critical engagement with China to press for accountability over the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, continued engagement with the ASEAN special envoy in Myanmar, and more vibrant partnerships with civil society groups on issues such as climate change, protection of human rights defenders, and digital literacy.