Jakarta, July 22 -- Indonesia has embarked on a new initiative to establish a new ministerial-level platform at the ASEAN level to promote human rights development in the region.

Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai said that he discussed the initiative during his meeting with Thailand's Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong in Bangkok on Monday.

"As the first ASEAN country with a ministry dedicated to human rights, we embark on the initiative to encourage other (ASEAN) ministers responsible for human rights to join on a new platform," he said in a written statement received here.

According to Pigai, all ASEAN countries face similar human rights issues in interactions with the business world, national development, as well as achieving social,...