Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to adopt a key document concerning the setting up a regional human rights body, Xinhua news agency reported.

The document, named Terms of Reference (ToR) of ASEAN Human Rights Body, is scheduled to be adopted by the ministers on July 20, clearing way for the body's formal establishment at the 15th ASEAN Summit in October 2009, Xinhua quoted ASEAN sources as saying on July 18.

The ToR has been drafted as part of the implementation of Article 14 of the ASEAN Charter which came into effect in December 2008.

The main principle adopted during drafting the ToR is being credible in terms of having a balance of promotion and protection of the human rights body, Vitavas Srivihok, Director-General of the ASEAN Affairs Department of the Thai Foreign Ministry, told Xinhua in an earlier interview./.