Singapore appoints SMU law prof, veteran lawyer as reps to Asean human rights body

Singapore Management University law professor Eugene Tan and TSMP Law Corporation joint managing partner Stefanie Yuen Thio have been appointed to represent Singapore at the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), said the Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Feb 26.

Associate Professor Tan will be Singapore’s representative to the AICHR from 2025 to 2027, having previously been Singapore’s alternate representative for two terms from 2019 to 2024.

Ms Yuen will represent Singapore in Prof Tan’s absence.

The AICHR was inaugurated in 2009 as the South-east Asian region’s overarching institution responsible for promoting human rights.

According to the commission’s terms of reference, each Asean member state appoints a representative to AICHR for a three-year term, and may reappoint the same person for another term.

Representatives are obligated to attend AICHR meetings. If the representative is unable to, an alternate representative, who could also be a temporary appointment, can act with full mandate of the member state after the chair of the commission is notified.

Apart from Singapore, the current Asean member states are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and 2025 chairman Malaysia, whose AICHR representative will also chair the human rights commission the same year.

Singapore has been supporting the commission’s efforts on issues including women empowerment and environmental protection, and is confident that Prof Tan and Ms Yuen will continue to advance the Republic’s strong engagement through the AICHR, said the MFA.

The government also extended its appreciation to Dr Shashi Jayakumar, formerly of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, for his contributions as alternate and then representative to the human rights body from 2016 to 2024, the ministry added.

A Fulbright Fellow at Stanford University from 2003-2004, Prof Tan currently teaches at the law, business and social sciences schools at SMU and holds research specialisations in areas including law, public policy and Singapore politics.

He also served as a Nominated Member of Parliament between 2012 and 2014.

A practising lawyer of 31 years and counting, Ms Yuen is also chairperson of non-profit organisation SG Her Empowerment (SHE) which aims to empower women through various community engagements and partnerships.

She was appointed to the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Corporate Governance Advisory Committee in 2025.

Both Ms Yuen and Prof Tan are alumni of the National University of Singapore.

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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