Human Rights - ASEAN's Turn.

In 1967 the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was created primarily as a security alliance to function as a bulwark against communism. The founding members were Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Today ASEAN has grown into a comprehensive regional organization whose functions include not only security issue but also political, social, economic, and cultural matters. In the subsequent years Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar have joined. As a result, the ten-nation ASEAN contains a population of about 500 million. The characteristics of ASEAN as a regional organization are that it is a highly state-centric organization stressing state sovereignty and noninterference in internal affairs of member states. This article, first, briefly explores theoretical framework of regional organizations. Secondly, the examination is made on regional integration in Asia in the area of human rights. Thirdly, an assessment is made on ASEAN region's efforts to create a regional human rights ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]