The 2nd ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC II) brought together more than 300 civil society actors, social movements, people’s organisations and trade unions to strengthen mutual cooperation and support for one another. It was also agreed to continue dialogue and constructive engagement with ASEAN member states. The 2nd ACSC Statement was created and special emphasis was placed on calling ASEAN to remedy grave human rights violations and create a regional human rights body.Civil society actors agreed to strengthen mutual cooperation and support for one another, as well as to continue dialogue and constructive engagement with ASEAN member states – this was the major outcome of the 2nd ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC II) held in the Philippines last December.
The highlight of the conference was the creation of the 2nd ACSC Statement, with the themes of calling for “ASEAN for the People”, and for “Creating a Caring and Sharing Community – Enhancing People’s Participation in Governance and Development”. Special emphasis was placed on calls to ASEAN to remedy the grave human rights situation in the region, and to create a regional human rights body, as well as assuring citizens’ access to information and upholding freedom of expression.
The conference brought over more than 300 civil society actors, social movements, people’s organisations and trade unions from Southeast Asia to discuss burning issues affecting the lives of the people in ASEAN countries. These ranged from rising threats to democracy in the region and the ASEAN Charter and regionalism, to ASEAN’s commitments versus reality, and the way forward for civil society in ASEAN.
FORUM-ASIA staff together with its members Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Cambodia Human Rights and Development Foundation (ADHOC), Think Center, Philippines Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) and Tanggol-Kalikasan (Public Interest Environmental Law Office) participated in this conference. It took place from 10-12 December 2006 in Cebu City, the Philippines.
ACSC II, which acts as an alternative platform to engage with ASEAN member states, was facilitated by the Solidarity for Asian’s People Advocacy Working Group on ASEAN. FORUM-ASIA is an active member of this group.
FORUM-ASIA and its members were involved in workshops focusing on “Internal Conflicts and Struggles for Self-Determination in Southeast Asia” and the “State of Human Rights and HR Institutions in Southeast Asia”. Updates on impunity crises in the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia were discussed. The conference was also an important venue for the FORUM-ASIA Executive Committee and members to discuss issues regarding ASEAN advocacy and future campaigns, and stressed the importance of the Secretariat to come up with a position paper on engaging with ASEAN.
“The ACSC is a successful platform and is an important platform in linking up human rights issues in the ASEAN region,” said Latt Ky, a representative from ADHOC.
Recently, during the 12th ASEAN Leader Summit from 13-15 January 2007; a representative of different civil society organisations that had facilitated and participated during ACSC II presented concerns to the public and ASEAN member states.
“The outcome of the ACSC II is the vision to look for more and assert for more institutional openness of the ASEAN and its governments to enable the people to participate in its processes,” said Joy Chavez of Focus on the Global South (FOCUS), who facilitated concerns to the public.
FORUM-ASIA will continue to engage with and network within the ACSC processes and ASEAN, especially in preparation for the 3rd ACSC that is to be held parallel to the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore later this year. This will be concurrent with the Secretariat’s special project on “Southeast Asia Human Rights Monitoring and Advocacy Project – on the occasion of the 40th ASEAN Anniversary”.
FORUM-ASIA also recently launched a campaign urging the ASEAN member states for the ratification of UN Human Rights Conventions and ILO Core Treaties as a follow-up to the ACSC process.
For the complete ACSC II declaration; please read "ASEAN for the People" (.pdf).
