The 21st Annual Meeting of the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) in Dili, Timor-Leste, opened with welcoming remarks from Chairperson Mr. Virgilio da Silva Guterres. He highlighted the key themes of “Protect, Respect, and Fulfill” human rights, with a focus on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ESCR) in border areas.
Mr. Guterres called for collaborative efforts to tackle the challenges faced by marginalized communities and urged delegates to prioritize gender equality, women’s empowerment, and torture prevention in their discussions. The Chairperson expressed confidence that the meeting would result in actionable outcomes for advancing human rights across Southeast Asia.