A/HRC/39/58 actors helps to identify and manage such problems and, in the best cases, literally ties all three levels together into a closely functioning and self-reinforcing system. 40. Conceptualizing successful regional mechanisms as integrated systems of commitment, procedure and collaboration has important implications for ongoing efforts to create new regional arrangements. First, it highlights the importance of the commitment of member States but emphasizes that this factor does not exist in isolation. Collaboration with domestic and international actors is required, even in the presence of strong member State commitment, just as domestic and international actors cannot succeed without member State commitment. This suggests that thinking sequentially is problematic when creating new arrangements. Rather, a successful regional arrangement requires the parallel development of self-supporting levels of collaboration, procedure and commitment. Modest but balanced arrangements that are allowed to evolve organically may be more sustainable than ambitious projects that seek to do too much too quickly. 41. Guaranteeing the commitment of member States to a regional human rights arrangement may be hindered because of different types of State governance. In contrast to norms prevailing in other regions, many Asian countries regard human rights issues as a domestic issue. Since non-interference in domestic affairs is one of the principles explicitly underlying the ASEAN founding documents, efforts to internationalize human rights protection within the ASEAN framework are expected to encounter procedural problems Furthermore, Asian countries tend to prioritize government-centred policy initiatives for creating economic development and accept the relegation of individual rights for the collective good. 45 Those differences, combined with the growing economic and political importance of Asia in the world, suggest that a simple transference of European models may not be a realistic expectation. 42. Strong commitment by a powerful country or small group of countries could be one way to generate momentum for a regional arrangement in Asia. As we have seen, a similar role was played by the United States in creating and financing the Inter-American human rights mechanism. For many international regimes, the presence of a leading nation is very important. However, many Asian powers do not appear to be willing to take on this role. 43. Thus, there appear to be three possible routes to creating an Asian regional human rights arrangement. The first is the narrow approach. That would consist of the creation of a small subregional human rights arrangement that is geographically limited but marked by a high degree of commitment, procedures closely modelled on best practices and deep collaboration with international actors and civil society. For example, an Asian human rights regime could be centred on a country with a strong human rights record and then expand to neighbouring countries. That approach would have the advantage of maximizing the protections for the inhabitants of member States in accordance with international standards but could experience growth difficulties if its convention and enforcement mechanisms were perceived as too intrusive. 44. The second route is the wide approach. That would consist of the negotiation of a broad and inclusive human rights arrangement that encompasses the entire region. Owing to widely divergent cultural values, types of governance and member State preferences, a successful agreement would necessarily reflect the lowest common denominator. In all likelihood, such an organization would be underfunded, procedurally handicapped and would limit the opportunities for civil society engagement. Nevertheless, its existence would be highly symbolic, provide at least a modicum of protection to the largest number of people and could help to encourage member States to show more commitment in the future. 45. The third route to a regional arrangement in Asia would consist of a networked approach, which closely resembles the method adopted in Africa. That would consist of the development of multiple and overlapping subregional mechanisms among like-minded countries. Those mechanisms would not have the same procedures because compromises 45 See Amartya Sen, Human Rights and Asian Values (New York, Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs, 1997). 15

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