"All eyes were on Cha-Am, Thailand on October 23, 2009, when Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders met to inaugurate the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). The Commission is fraught with serious problems such as a lack of independence from member states ? Burma?s representative to the AICHR, for example, staunchly defends the military regime and its dismal human rights record. The AICHR also adheres to a non-interference policy, promotes ?promotion” as opposed to protection of human rights, and has no enforcement powers. Despite these obstacles, human rights groups in the region were hopeful that input from civil society would help to give teeth to the fledgling AICHR. Civil society groups from ASEAN member states met..."