Asia Centre Participates in Workshop on Freedom of Religion or Belief
3 November 2018 – Dr. Robin Ramcharan analysed the role of youth interaction with religious leaders in constraining religious extremism during a workshop on freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), organised by the Rule of Law Program of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and its partners in Singapore, from 29 to 30 October 2018. He noted analysis worldwide that showed the impact of marginalization and of religious-dissonance on the progression of youth from their regular lives towards extremist thoughts and sometimes violence. Research has shown that religious leaders can play a vital role in youths’ search for theological consistency in their particular environments and in critically thinking about their own faiths, especially in a world awash with fake news on the internet. Globally, the international community’s peacebuilding experience has led to calls for the integration of religious leaders in post-conflict peacebuilding and in sustaining peace. The mere instrumentalisation of religious leaders in support of liberal goals is seen to be insufficient for laying the foundations for peace. Asia Centre thus continues to engage in regional discussions and with emerging networks on FoRB in Southeast Asia. It aims to produce an updated regional analysis on FoRB in the Universal Periodic Review process as revealed in the third cycle. FoRB and fake news is also set to feature in the Centre’s conference on Fake News and Elections in Asia, to be held from 10 to 12 July 2019 in Bangkok. Email contact@asiacentre.org to submit abstracts or to partner for the conference. ***
IFC #4: Asia Centre marks UN Day with debate on “Rice before Rights”
International Faculty Club (24 October 2018) – The argument that development priorities take precedence over civil and political rights threatens to upend the international human rights movement, which has advocated for the indivisibility of economic, social and cultural rights (ESCRs) and civil and political rights (CIVPOL). This argument is advanced by China and those attracted by its model of governance and growth. However, as Canadian Ambassador Donica Pottie noted pointed out during the roundtable on ‘Rice before Rights”, held on 24 October 2018, western countries share responsibility for this situation, as they chose to emphasize civil and political rights over ESCRs in their foreign policies. Experts at the event, held on UN day, noted the contributions of the UN but noted major challenges of defending human rights in the contemporary geopolitical context of a rising China, the disengagement of the US and Europe, and a resurgent Russia. In addition to the above normative challenge above, it was noted that the rules-based multilateralism required for advancing international human rights standards is also under threat. Furthermore, civil society faces a difficult task as it faces shrinking space for advocacy as well as financial constraints. Its ability to effect progressive change was questioned. The need for a reinvigorated humanism was noted, with all participants calling for a ‘new mandala’ that placed the well being and emancipation of the person at the centre of all thought and action. The roundtable discussion, attended by some 40 guests, took place during Asia Centre’s International Faculty Club (IFC) and featured Ambassador Pottie, as well as Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed from the Centre for Genocide Studies, University of Dhaka, Dr. Latifa Laghzaoui, Webster University Thailand and Mr. Dipendra K C, School of Global Studies, Thammasat University. The event enjoyed the support of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. Asia Centre will continue to engage on human rights and contemporary development, human rights and peace issues during the IFC, which is an innovative mechanism that brings together academics, civil society, graduates students, policy makers and other stakeholders together to share ideas and forge collaborations.
Asia Centre and Monash University co-host Roundtable on the Rohingya Crisis
Asia Centre and Monash University co-hosted a roundtable on the Rohingya Crisis on 15 December 2017, which was held at the National Centre for South Asian Studies at Monash. Experts and discussants pondered the causes and the future of the humanitarian efforts, including the November 2017 agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar for the return of over 700,000 Rohingya to Rakhine State. Whereas the UN and wider international community have responded within constrained parameters, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) appears to be impotent in the face of one of the worse cases of gross and massive violations of human rights in recent times. Even if the Rohingya in Bangladesh return to Rakhine, the core underlying causes of the crisis still remain – their statelessness and consequent lack of rights in Myanmar. In October of this year Asia Centre also hosted a human rights dialogue which saw the Ambassador of Bangladesh highlighting the Bangladesh response to the Rohingya crisis. The Centre aims to pursue further work on the situation of the Rohingya in 2018.
Ambassador of Bangladesh Highlights Rohingya Crisis in Human Rights Dialogue at Asia Centre
The desperate plight of the Rohingya people in Myanmar was raised by the Ambassador of Bangladesh, H.E. Ms. Saida Muna Tasneem during an address at Asia Centre to youth from South Asia and Thailand. As Bangladesh bore the brunt of the influx of refugees, Ambassador Tasneem made an impassioned plea for the world and Southeast Asia to both care about and act resolutely to address the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, which the international community has called “Ethnic Cleansing”. The United States has also labeled the situation ‘ethnic cleansing’. It will be recalled that over 600,000 Rohingya refugees have fled into Bangladesh and some to other parts of the world since the latest exodus started following violence in Rakhine State on 25 August 2017. Mostly women and children have made it to Bangladesh in refugee camps of Kutupalong and Nayapara, as well as in makeshift sites. Overall, since October last year some 700,000 have fled to neighbouring countries due to the Myanmar Government’s ‘clearing operations’. Despite a recent agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar on the return of the Rohingya to Myanmar, based on a 1992/93 repatriation pact, history suggests that any return will be a very long term process and the thorny issue of their citizenship will remain. The Rohingya people have faced discrimination and persecution in Myanmar for decades. The Myanmar government maintains that they are ‘Bangladeshis’ who migrated in recent times to Myanmar and withdrew their citizenship rights in 1982. This condition of statelessness has seriously aggravated their livelihoods, as they are thus prevented from enjoying their most basic rights, including religious freedom. Amnesty International noted that the Rohingya lived under state-sponsored, institutionalized discrimination that amounted to apartheid, in a November 2017 Report. Women in particular have borne the brunt of the atrocities being committed. A United Nations women’s rights panel has requested the Myanmar to report within six months on allegations of sexual violence by its Security forces. This ‘exceptional report’ by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, was issued because the committee felt very compelled to do so due to “reports of sexual violence, rape, torture, mutilation” that women were allegedly being subjected to. Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s silence on the Rohingyas, universally condemned by her international peers, is even more striking in this context. The Ambassador, while stressing her country’s compassionate response to the crisis despite its many existing challenges, also made a plea to the youth assembled at Asia Centre, in late October 2017, to never let this happen again. She emphasized that it was youth activism for human rights in other parts of the world, notably young people in Southern United States in the 1940s and 1950s, whose courage led to the greatest advances in human rights in that country. This was critical in the context of international and regional political mechanisms that appear to be ineffective in responding to crimes against humanity, despite the nascent ‘responsibility to protect’ doctrine. His Holiness Pope Francis’s well intentioned visit to Myanmar in late November 2017, was undertaken with great trepidation as he too was advised against the use of the word “Rohingya”, out of fear that there could be backlash against Christian minorities. The Pope made a necessary visit, especially as the Myanmar government denies any faith based conflict on its territory, for peace and harmony among all faiths and for reconciliation.
Innovative Initiatives for Sustainable Development at UN SDG Week
On Thursday 30 November, Asia Centre participated in the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Week organized by UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. This year’s event focused on innovation – integration – inclusiveness and implementing the 2030 agenda for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific. The SDG Week brought together government organizations, intergovernmental partners and agencies, regional organizations, businesses, think tanks, academia and other stakeholders to engage in discussions on effective implementation of the SDGs. Throughout the SDG week Asia Centre showcased its work at the Pavilion of Partnerships alongside other social enterprises, civil society organizations and universities among others. Asia Centre’s Michelle D’cruz and Tessa Alleblas also joined discussions in the Bazaar of Ideas where social enterprises and start-ups presented innovative solutions to economic, social and environmental problems and to promote sustainable development. These included projects on social housing, tackling the waste problem by providing biodegradable alternatives, and removing waste from the ocean and turning this into clothing and accessories. Asia Centre continues to follow discussions on SDGs closely and remains committed to promoting sustainable development through its work on human rights. As part of this commitment, the Asia Centre will organize an international conference on business and human rights in July 2018.
IFC #3: Innovative Research on Display
Four speakers came forward to share their research interests in their respective fields at AsiaCentre’s third International Faculty Club (IFC) Night. They spoke on a variety of topics, including niche areas such as on representations of Tibetan Buddhism in contemporary China, women’s entrepreneurship and digital technologies and linguistics. Jingyu (Forrest) Huang, introduced his study on a three-dimensional Buddhist Mandala in Pule Temple, in Chengde, China, and the understandings of these works in contemporary China. He shared his keen interest in the art history of Tibetan Buddhism. He is a Master’s student at the College of Religious Studies of Mahidol University. Gender, migration and entrepreneurship was discussed by Puja Singh who is pursuing a doctorate focusing on this theme. She highlighted the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and enterprise performance with women’s empowerment as mediator. Her ideas solicited much discussion and interest in the models that she is developing. Research into linguistics for second language learners using digital technologies is Willard Van De Bogart’s area of expertise. He is a lecture and researcher at Bangkok University and offered his insights into this cutting edge research field. Youth engagement and empowerment also featured in the evening’s discussions as Hamsa Mohamed, a student at Stamford International University, introduced his work with and the role of AISEC in generating future leaders with innovative solutions to world challenges. The evening saw new faces joining the IFC community of academics, researchers and students.Held on 23 November at Asia Centre, IFC attracted over 20 participants for the line up of speakers. Asia Centre will continue to engage with the community through the IFC in 2018 and to seek new, innovative research and projects being undertaken in Bangkok and beyond. Meeting Spaces
Freedom of Religion and Belief in Southeast Asia: Evidence Based Research in Support of Regional Networks
The challenges to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) emanating from analysis of the Universal Periodic Review of Southeast Asia were outlined by Asia Centre’s Dr. Robin Ramcharan at the third Southeast Asia FoRB (SEA ForB) conference in Manila from 7 to 8 November 2017. In the lead up to this conference, Asia Centre undertook a regional analysis of these challenges in collaboration with the International Panel of Parliamentarians for FoRB (IPPForB). The Universal Periodic Review revealed a number of region-wide issues: rise in FoRB based violence against non-dominant religions, non-alignment of domestic legislation with international standards, faith-based governmental discrimination especially in countries which have adopted official religions, restrictions on places of worship, restrictions on the right to convert, discrimination against women and the destruction of the Indigenous peoples’ habitats which negatively impacts their spiritual practices and belief systems. In this regard, practices (mining in particular) of business entities need greater attention. The intersectionality with related rights also featured in the UPR reports, notably, negative impacts on freedom of expression due to restrictions (in criminal codes and blasphemy laws) on public discourse about religion, freedom of assembly, migrant workers rights and on refugee protection. Discrimination and denial of rights across the region with respect to the Rohingya community in Myanmar and those fleeing the country was noted. The ongoing ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya community from Myanmar featured poignantly at the SEA FoRB conference in Manila. Collectively, the SEAFoRB conference raised the following salient points: The problematic global and regional human rights protection regime, Uncertainty over global leadership on human rights in the current geopolitical context, The ineffectiveness of global human rights institutions in the face of extreme crises like that taking place in Myanmar, The need for effective national human rights systems and institutions to take forward human rights protection, notably on FoRB, The need for effective regional and universal support mechanisms The need for sound, accurate, evidence-based documentation for effective advocacy on FoRB. In order increase the profile of FoRB in the region SEAFoRB partners concurred on the need to create a formal regional FoRB network that will step-up engagement on FoRB challenges. Asia Centre looks forward to being an integral part of that network. In the meantime, the Centre will continue its research and advocacy in this very important area.
Asia Centre Joins Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN)
Asia Centre is pleased to announce its membership in ADPAN, which works towards abolishing the death penalty in Southeast Asia and beyond, on the occasion of the 15th world anti-death penalty day on October 10, 2017. Southeast Asia has seen a resurgence in the use of the death penalty in recent years, notably in Malaysia and Singapore. Whereas it has been abolished in the Philippines since 2006, the current government seeks to re-instate its use. Indonesia and Vietnam appear to use this sentence liberally. Moratoria remain in other parts of the region. The right to life is guaranteed under international human rights law. The death penalty for all types of offences runs counter to this fundamental right. Powerful arguments against this penalty have been advanced: 1) That the practice of the death penalty – an ‘eye for an eye’ approach – by States is not a good basis on which to build a peaceful society; 2) That this sentence is used mostly against poorer segments of society and vulnerable communities, such as the LGBTI community for the act of gay sex; 3) That it does not deter crime; 4) That miscarriages of justice may occur as many on death row may in fact be innocent; 5) That various methods of execution involve much pain and suffering to those sentenced (as powerfully depicted in the work of anti-death penalty artist Toshi Kazami); and 6) That long periods on ‘death row’ inflicts cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment on those thus sentenced and causes and pain on their families. The United Nations (UN) has urged states to respect the rights of those facing the death penalty, to progressively restrict its use and to reduce the number of offences for which this sentence is used. UN Secretary General (SG) Antonio Guterres has stated that there was “no place for the death penalty in 21st Century” during an anti-death penalty event of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 10 October in New York. Globally, some 170 countries have either abolished or stopped using the death penalty. The SG noted that four countries only were responsible for 87 per cent of all remaining executions and expressed concern over a worrying trend towards reversing long-standing moratoria. Asia Centre has supported initiatives in line with ADPAN’s mission, which is to work for the abolition of the death penalty primarily across Asia and the Pacific and the world at large. The Centre organized a regional panel on the death penalty in 2015 and facilitated a discussion on Toshi Kazami’s exhibition in Bangkok in October 2016. TheCentre participated in ADPAN’s General Assembly as an observer on 20 July 2017 in Kuala Lumpur and also contributed to the subsequent two-day National Conference on the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Malaysia and in Asia-Pacific. During the National Conference the Centre’s Dr. Robin Ramcharan called attention to the need for better and more strategic use of the Universal Periodic Review in efforts to advocate for abolition of the death penalty. Likewise, National Human Right Institutions have a vital role to play. Asia Centre engages in evidence-based research on regional human rights issues and mechanisms, including on the death penalty. In July 2018, Asia Centre will examine, inter alia, the capacity of regional human rights instruments to contribute to the elimination of the death penalty.
Impact of the UPR on the Protection of Human Rights in Southeast Asia
In its ongoing work on the impact of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Human Rights Council on the protection of human rights in Southeast Asia, Asia Centre convened a focus group to discuss its research findings for a baseline study on this mechanism. Held on October 6, 2017, the session was facilitated by Asia Centre’s Dr. Robin Ramcharan and it included participants from national, regional and international organisations. Civil society and other stakeholders noted during the discussions that since the UPR is a dialogue mechanism that States are comfortable with, it might be effectively harnessed as a platform for holding States accountable and keeping discourse on human rights issues alive. Key points raised by participants included the need for greater strategic engagement and coalition building by civil society, challenges in the follow up and implementation of recommendations and the need for capacity building on the UPR for civil society and government officials. The baseline study, conducted in partnership with the Heinrich Boell Stiftung, Southeast Asia, adds to the emerging evidence-based research on the impact of the UPR on human rights protection in Southeast Asia and seeks to enhance civil society’s advocacy strategies. The feedback and points raised during the discussion, echoed many of of the trends revealed in Asia Centre’s initial mapping of the UPR and its inaugural UPR conference over the period 2016 to 2017. The Centre’s evidence-based research on the UPR takes place in the context of its Human Rights Programme.
Freedom of Religion or Belief Threatened in Southeast Asia
Reports jointly produced by Asia Centre and International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion (IPPFoRB) reveal serious challenges to religious freedom in Southeast Asia. The 11 country reports were released at IPPFoRB’s conference for ASEAN Parliamentarians held in Bangkok on 7th and 8th October 2017. Dr. Robin Ramcharan of Asia Centre coordinated the research on behalf of IPPFoRB. Looking at all the ASEAN countries, the research shows that religious freedom appears to be regressing in Southeast Asia. Serious challenges have arisen in recent years across the region, such as in Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, according to the reports. The country reviews of each of the 11 States of the region provide a toolkit for parliamentarians, civil society and other stakeholders who want to engage on FoRB, especially in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Human Rights Council. “The reports provide a valuable resource for parliamentarians and civil society organisations across South East Asia,” said David Anderson, member of the IPPFoRB Steering Group and Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons. He added: “I encourage ASEAN parliamentarians to use these expert reports to press their respective governments for the legislative and policy changes necessary to secure religious freedom.” Asia Centre aims to continue its evidence based research on FoRB in Southeast Asia and its intersectionality with other fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression.