On 23-27 May 2011, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) representatives were in Europe for a-week long visit to various European institutions in Brussels, Strasbourg and Vienna. Malaysia's AICHR representative, His Excellency Dato' Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah was accompanied by Ms. Rafiqa Hazura Md. Ridzuan, First Secretary, Embassy of Malaysia in Belgium throughout the programme.
The objective of the trip was to understand the European Union's policies on human rights and the role of the European Parliament, European Commission, NGOs and civil society. The AICHR representatives also had a meeting with the ASEAN Brussels Committee (ABC) over dinner at the Mission of Thailand. In Vienna, the ASEAN Vienna Committee hosted a lunch reception at the Ambassador of Malaysia's residence.
In Brussels, the AICHR group had meetings with representatives from the European External Action Service (EEAS), European Parliament and a group of NGOs. In Strasbourg, they had meetings with senior officials of the Council of Europe and European Court of Human Rights. In Vienna, meetings were held with representatives from the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).