1996
The Working Group had its first meeting with ASEAN Foreign Ministers to discuss human rights in ASEAN and the issue of establishing an appropriate regional human rights mechanism.
2019
The Working Group met with the ASEAN SOM to discuss amendments to the AICHR TOR and modalities for amendments.
2012 - present
The Working Group has continued to periodically meet with ASEAN through the ASEAN Senior Officials (SOM) and the AICHR.
- 2014 – met with the ASEAN SOM Chair on the occasion of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (Naypyitaw, Myanmar)
- 2015 – met with the ASEAN SOM Chair on the occasion of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
- 2016 – met with the ASEAN SOM Chair on the occasion of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (Vientiane, Lao P.D.R.)
- 2017 – met with the ASEAN SOM Chair on the occasion of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (Manila, Philippines)
2015
The Working Group met with the High Level Task Force on ASEAN Community’s Post-2015 Vision at Singapore.
2012
ASEAN adopted the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Declaration details ASEAN Member-States commitment to human rights and affirm that human rights belong to "every person," specifically emphasizing that they belong to "women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, migrant workers, and vulnerable and marginalized groups. It also affirms all the civil and political rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
2010-2011
The Working Group engages with the AICHR on the drafting of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration.
2009
The ToR for the establishment of an ASEAN human rights body is adopted and approved by the Foreign Ministers. (in Phuket)
ASEAN establishes the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights.
2008
The Working Group engages with the ASEAN High Level Panel (HLP) to draft the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the ASEAN human rights body. (in Singapore)
The ASEAN Charter is ratified by all 10 ASEAN Member-States. (in Jakarta)
2007
ASEAN adopts the Cebu Declaration on the Blueprint of the ASEAN Charter; ASEAN Leaders endorse the EPG Report to the High Level Task Force (HLTF) created to draft the Charter. (in Cebu)
ASEAN NHRIs (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand) formalize support for a regional mechanism by signing a Declaration of Cooperation which includes a provision on recommending steps that could be taken in establishing an ASEAN human rights mechanism to their respective governments. (in Bali)
Article 14 of the proposed ASEAN Charter mandates the establishment of an ASEAN human rights body “in conformity with the purposes and principles of the ASEAN Charter relating to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms”. (in Singapore)
2006
The EPG submits its report to the ASEAN Summit. (in Manila)
[Throughout the year, the EPG consulted parliamentarians, ministers, the academe, and civil society to get ideas on the Charter. The EPG Report includes a provision that the ASEAN human rights mechanism is “[a] worthy idea [that] should be pursued further”.]