2015-16 Centre news
Spark Sessions #1
Spark Sessions: An Alternative Networking Event proved to be Asia Centre’s most popular event to date with over 70 participants taking part. This is the Centre’s new platform for connecting
The 2016 US Elections: Change At Last?
On the eve of the historic vote, Asia Centre convened a roundtable to discuss perspectives and predictions on the outcome of the US Presidential Elections. Entitled, “The 2016 US Elections:
UN human rights review is largely toothless – but it’s giving a boost to Asian civil society groups
A United Nations initiative reviewing human rights records of countries around the world is indirectly strengthening civil society organisations in Southeast Asia by allowing them to participate in the process.
Working with People-Centred Processes: Art, Education & Cross-Sector Collaboration
From October 14 to 17 2016, Asia Centre in partnership with International Forum for Inter-Media Art and Brack organised a cross-sector collaboration workshop. Conceptualised by Asia Centre Associate and iFima founder
Asia Centre Facilitates Focus On Life Discussion
New York-based Japanese photographer and anti-death penalty activist Toshi Kazama held a photo exhibition and discussion of his work on 11 October 2016 at The Sukosol Hotel. Asia Centre facilitated
Media & Communications Workshop 2016
From 19 to 30 September 2016, Asia Centre held a Media & Communications Workshop for students from the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. The two week experiential learning programme was
1st International Conference (2016): Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Southeast Asia, An Evidence-Based Regional Assessment
The UPR has been an effective mechanism for putting human rights issues on the agenda and engaging states in conversation about critical issues. However, systemic problems remain with regards to
Southeast Asian Studies Series – Call for Manuscripts
GerakBudaya and Asia Centre are pleased to announce the launch of a joint regional publications series which aims to focus upon the politics, history and culture of Southeast Asian societies.
Brexit: A Failure to Promote the European Union
UK voters were not properly informed by political leaders about the functions, institutions and powers of the EU, which has made a great contribution to the prosperity of the UK
Asia Centre to Focus on Human Rights Policy Analysis
Having established a presence and network in Bangkok in its first year, in its second year Asia Centre turns to its programmatic focus. This will centre on human rights policy
Impunity waters down accountability in Southeast Asia
The provision of impunity to human rights violators is the biggest challenge for ensuring accountability. This was the general conclusion of the panelists at the event Confronting Elusiveness: Demanding Accountability
Asia Centre: Regional Representative for Malaysian Publisher Gerakbudaya
Asia Centre has signed a partnership with Malaysian Publisher Gerakbudaya to be its regional representative in Thailand. Moving forward, Asia Centre will commission, edit, launch a publication series, distribute and
Cause Lawyering: Advocating For Justice
Cause lawyers set themselves apart in their profession by using the law as tool for social justice. They protect the rights of marginalised communities and bridge the gap between law
Entering Femininity: Reporting Rituals and Violations
Entering Femininity: Reporting Rituals and Violations seminar at Asia Centre attempted to open the topic of female genital mutilation (FGM) for a Bangkok audience. Organised by Alexander Demetrianova, an Asia Centre
Authoritarian Instituitions Help Najib Weather 1MDB Storm
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib has survived the fallout from the 1MDB scandal and is likely to continue in power despite the widespread feeling that it would lead to his ouster. This
Singapore: A Political Dystopia for Democracy
Singapore is not the political utopia that it projects itself to be. Beneath the veneer, lies a dystopia of political repression, self-censorship and culture of fear. This was the nub
The Politics Of Conflict
The “Kachin conflict” at its heart is a political one. Even though the term “Kachin conflict” invariably leads to it being framed and discussed as an ethnic conflict, obscuring the politics at
Futures Planning: Charting Asia Centre’s Course
On 17 Feb 2016, the Asia Centre team sat down with Marianne Dutkiewicz, an Asia Pacific Leadership Program Fellow with the the East-West Center in Hawaii, for a peek into
A Political Utopia Called Singapore
A Political Utopia called Singapore: Will the PAP stay in power another 50 years? Since its independence in 1965, Singapore has been continuously governed by the People’s Action Party (PAP)
Region’s human rights watchdogs lack bite
Are Southeast Asia’s national human rights institutions protecting anyone? A new report by Dr. James Gomez and Dr. Robin Ramcharan gives a bleak assessment (15 February 2016, New Mandala)
1st Benedict Anderson Memorial Roundtable: Debating Imagined Communities
Debating Imagined Communities: A Tribute To Benedict Anderson celebrated the life and work of the late Professor Anderson. Held on 30 January 2016 at Asia Centre in Bangkok, Thailand; the event
Irregular Foreigners’ Right to Health in Japan
Asia Centre hosted Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University student Yasuyuki Kato on 19th October 2015. Kato presented his thesis; “Irregular Foreigners’ Right to Health in Japan: An Analysis
The ASEAN Way and Human Rights
The ASEAN way affects the protection aspect of human rights in Southeast Asia, Dr James Gomez and Dr Robin Ramcharan, explain how. (19 February 2015, New Mandala)
Democratic values and human rights in ASEAN
Written by Dr James Gomez and Dr Robin Ramcharan, this article first appeared on 9 February 2015 in the Asian Sentinel.
ASEAN needs formal civil society engagement mechanism on human rights
Written by Dr. James Gomez and Dr. Robin Ramcharan, this article first appeared on 19 November 2012 in The Malaysian Insider.