2021 Centre news

Business and Human Rights: More Stakeholder Participation Needed in Southeast Asia
While welcoming the uptake of the BHR agenda across Southeast Asia, panelists in the online forum: ‘Business and Human Rights in Southeast Asia: Progress Towards

COVID-19 Disportionately Impacts Women’s Rights
Commissioners from different human rights bodies highlighted that during the pandemic, women disportionately faced various challenges. Despite the operational difficulties, the various commissions nevertheless have

Asia Centre Pens Agreement With Naresuan University
On 26 November 2021, Dr. Robin Ramcharan, Executive Director, Asia Centre and Dr. Napisa Waitoolkiat, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Naresuan University, Thailand

Media Spotlight Can Help Address Vaccine Inequality
Vaccine inequality is a growing concern in Asia, where the biggest challenge in keeping the pandemic at bay is the vaccination rates of a country.

Anti-Discrimination Laws Needed To Protect Minorities
Anti-discrimination laws and independent commissions are needed to protect minorities disadvantaged by legal measures that are claimed to be enacted to maintain social harmony. This

Malaysian Journalists Influence Media Ethics But Need Support
In the absence of a progressive legal framework to establish a Media Council and a complimentary Code of Ethics, the actions of journalists as influencers

Workshop on Tackling Disinformation
Asia Centre, in collaboration with the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), convened a two-day workshop

6th International Conference (2021): COVID-19 in Asia: Communication, Nationalism and Technology
From 8 to 10 September 2021, Asia Centre convened its 6th International Conference on COVID-19 in Asia: Communication, Nationalism and Technology. Due to the ongoing

Data Protection Can Ease Fear in Cambodia
Data protection is needed in Cambodia to address self-censorship arising from the monitoring and persecution of online users. This was the key theme that emerged

Covid-19 Policies Impact Information Rights
The COVID-19 related infodemic in Southeast Asia is affecting access to accurate information. This is in part caused by the implementation of the government’s public

“Infodemic” Infringes Right to Accurate Information
Large amounts of false or misleading information related to the COVID-19 pandemic, referred to as an “infodemic”, and the attempts to combat it, have actually

Asia Centre’s Human Rights Internship Programme
From 2016 to August 2021, Asia Centre’s Internship Programme has hosted 38 interns, with a 2:3 male to female ratio for a total of 155

Asia Centre and Destination Justice Sign MOU
Asia Centre and Destination Justice signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 4 July 2021. This MoU marks the start of the organisations’ collaboration on Thailand related

Timor-Leste’s Problematic “Internet” Laws
Timor-Leste’s government must set out clearly defined steps in the drafting process of its legislation, including ensuring there are consistent and adequate opportunities for consultation

Securitisation of Health Protocols: Impact on Vulnerable Communities
In responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments across the Asian region have adopted (exceptional) health protocols to contain and arrest the spread of infections, and

Timor Leste Risks Downgrading Freedoms With New Laws
Amidst recent pushback to protect internet freedoms, it remains to be seen if Timor-Leste will retain its high rankings in “freedoms” in the long-term, as

Freedom of Expression A Fundamental Right
Academic, press and internet freedoms are a cluster of rights that form freedom of expression. To realise these rights, one must have access to accurate

Innovation Important to Overcome Media Hurdles
Media in the region are facing challenges both in terms of state censorship and financial sustainability. However, in almost all circumstances, innovation and improvisation were

Academic Freedoms Deteriorate As Autocracy Strengthens in Asia
Academic freedoms in Asia have deteriorated as autocracy strengthens across the region. However, in building resilience and fostering change, academic, press and internet freedoms need

Inequality Sharpens During Pandemic
Inequality sharpened during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among vulnerable communities in Asia. This was the principal theme in the stories of the 10 finalists which

Getting To The Other Side of the Myanmar Coup
Asia Centre’s webinar, “Law and Lawlessness: Myanmar Coup and Human Rights” on 11 March 2021 discussed the 1 February 2021 Myanmar military coup. The event

Asia Centre and Oxfam Announce 2020-21 Journalism Award Finalists
Asia Centre and Oxfam in Asia are pleased to announce the finalists for the 2020-21 Journalism For an Equitable Asia Award. As thought leaders and

Asia Centre Connects with Human Rights in Ubon Ratchathani
On 5 March 2021, Asia Centre’s Drs. James Gomez and Robin Ramcharan participated in “The Official Launch of the Regional Center for Human Rights Study

Asia Centre & CALD: Freedom of Expression Needs Defending
With internet shutdowns, throttling of internet server speeds, geo-blocking of social media posts, persecution of social media users, attacks against journalists and media organisations and

5th Benedict Anderson Memorial Roundtable: COVID-19 and Vaccine Nationalism
Rich countries have placed orders, received consignments and have begun inoculating their citizens, however, the reality of needing to inoculate foreign residents in their midst