The first-ever meeting of the Solidarity for Asian People’s Advocacy (SAPA) General Forum 2007 will take place in Bangkok, Thailand from 5-6 February 2007. SAPA was conceived in order to enhance the effectiveness and impact of civil society advocacy, and are engaged in four thematic areas: democracy and human rights; peace and human security; sustainable development and the environment; and globalisation, trade, finance and labour. The meeting aims to strengthen cooperation and solidarity among members through developing common action plans.The first-ever meeting of the Solidarity for Asian People’s Advocacy (SAPA) General Forum 2007 will take place in Bangkok, Thailand from 5-6 February 2007. SAPA was conceived in order to enhance the effectiveness and impact of civil society advocacy, and are engaged in four thematic areas: democracy and human rights; peace and human security; sustainable development and the environment; and globalisation, trade, finance and labour. The meeting aims to strengthen cooperation and solidarity among members through developing common action plans.
Background
The SAPA General Forum 2007 (SAPA-GF 2007) is the first meeting of all SAPA members and partners since its inception at its first regional consultation meeting in Bangkok on 3 & 4 February 2006. More than 50 participants representing about 30 civil society organisations (CSOs) were present at that meeting.
SAPA was conceived in order to enhance the effectiveness and impact of civil society advocacy. Its tactics involve improving communication, cooperation and coordination among Asian social movements and CSOs that are engaged in action, advocacy and lobbying of inter-governmental processes and organisations.
Four main thematic areas engage SAPA’s attention:
- democracy and human rights (including women’s rights)
- peace and human security
- sustainable development and environment
- globalisation, trade, finance and labour
Objectives
SAPA GF 2007 aims to strengthen cooperation and solidarity among members through developing common action plans by:
Discussing the regional and sub-regional situation and substantive thematic issues
Evaluating the activity reports from working bodies and members
addressing organisational matters.
Organisers
The SAPA-GF 2007 is organized by SAPA Regional Steering Committee (RSC) that is composed of the following 6 regional civil society organisations:
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Asian Partnership for Development of Human Resources in Rural Asia (AsiaDHHRA)
FOCUS on the Global South (FOCUS)
Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA)
South East Asian Committee for Advocacy (SEACA)
Third World Network (TWN)
Participants
About 100 participants who are members of SAPA are expected to attend the SAPA-GF 2007. Partners are also invited to attend as observers.
Programme Agenda
There will be two types of meetings – a public forum and a SAPA members’ meeting which is open only to SAPA official members.
The main agenda comprises:
- Assessment of the regional situation, covering the four thematic areas.
- Evaluation of activities and planning, activity reports from SAPA working bodies, joint advocacy working calendar, joint action plans, and others.
- Organisational issues such as membership, coordination structure and mechanisms.
Contact Details
FORUM-ASIA, current convenor of SAPA, serves as the local hosting organisation of the SAPA-GF 2007. Contact persons in FORUM-ASIA for this event are:
Anselmo Lee, Executive Director [email protected]
Rashid Kang, Advocacy Programme Manager [email protected]
Pokpong Lawansiri (Pong), Regional Advocacy Programme [email protected]
Please see:
- Full background paper for the SAPA-GF 2007 (.pdf)
- Programme Agenda (.pdf)
- SAPA Brochure (.pdf)
- Registration form (.doc)
