Asia Centre Human Rights Briefing for Georgia Tech, USA
Asia Centre held a briefing session on 22 May 2017, in Bangkok, for visitors from the Southeast Asia Study Abroad Program of the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs of Georgia Tech, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Dr. Robin Ramcharan and Dr. James Gomez led the briefing and discussions. Dr. Katja Weber led the group from Georgia Tech. The session focused on challenges facing human rights protection and democratic transitions in ASEAN, and on contemporary governance challenges that affect human security including the difficulties of providing social protection. Institutional differences between ASEAN and other regional bodies were highlighted. The value of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the UN Human Rights Council to human rights protection in the region was emphasized and appraised. The critical role and impact of civil society organizations highlighted. It was noted that their formal exclusion from ASEAN regional mechanisms rendered the UPR even more appealing since CSOs and other stakeholders are consulted in the UPR peer-review process. The study group were apprised of the capacity and need for the UPR dialogue process to tackle hard civil and political issues. One of those is the shrinking space for freedom of expression (FOE) across the region, which faces threats from the criminalization of political opposition, restrictive cyber and telecommunications laws, restrictions on social media and presidential decrees in one-man or one-party authoritarian States. Participants from the study group engaged in discussion on FOE challenges, ethnic conflict and problems of social inequality. The study group, which was touring several countries in Southeast Asia, stopped by Asia Centre to exchange views on challenges facing the region and to share their insights on the same. Asia Centre looks forward to continued interaction and future collaboration with the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs.
IFC #1: Asia Centre Launches International Faculty Club
On 12 May 2017, Asia Centre launched the International Faculty Club (IFC) with some 40 academics, researchers and graduate students in attendance. The event filled a gap in the Bangkok social landscape that brought together people across different tertiary institutions allowing those from diverse academic disciplines to dialogue, share innovative ideas and forge friendships in a convivial setting. The evening turned out to be an engrossing academic networking event as the inaugural gathering saw a series of speakers taking to the floor to share their ongoing research and interests. These included: Evgeniia Sidorova, Thammasat University, who made a visual presentation about urban space and the importance of incorporating the human element in design. Mike Raomanachai, Voice TV, who spoke about press freedom and hands-on opportunities in New.Next.Now Media Conference on May 19-21 in Hong Kong. Jennie Williams, a human rights researcher and legal consultant, discussed the issue of consent and its implication on sex worker’s rights and women’s rights. Those present had plenty of questions and comments for the presentations, this was followed by an impromptu open mic session that saw several more speakers sharing their views. The next IFC gathering is on 4 August 2017 at 6pm at the Asia Centre and it welcomes participants and speakers. For those interested, the format of the event is very simple, you just need to prepare a short presentation and appear on the stated date at the Asia Centre’s premises to speak, meet and greet. Do not miss out – book your spot! Sign up for the next event here or email contact@asiacentre.co.th. Do tell your friends and colleagues about it. We look forward to seeing you at the next IFC!
Civil Society Needs to Innovate to Combat Shrinking Space in Southeast Asia
Civil society needs to innovate if it wants to step up to the challenges of shrinking space, this was the crux of Dr James Gomez’s vision for the future of human rights in Southeast Asia. Dr Gomez shared his perspective at a public lecture hosted by the Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science on 3 May 2017. Titled Civil Society and Shrinking Political Space: the future of human rights in Southeast Asia, the lecture attracted some 30 participants who were interested in the trajectory of human rights in a region that is slipping back into authoritarianism. In this presentation, Dr. Gomez outlined four key challenges facing civil society which stem from: pressures imposed by the state in the form of legislation and reporting measures to monitor and control civil society activities and funding sources; problems within civil society’s rank and file such as organisational structures, internal political divisions within organisations and cross organisational competition for limited grant resources; emerging trend in donor and grant funding adjusting their priorities to more politically conservative environments, both back home and in target countries in the region; and the impact of China on national governments in Southeast on human rights issues connected to Chinese engagement in the region. To illustrate the impact of these key challenges, Dr Gomez highlighted the workings of human rights mechanisms such as the UN’s Universal Periodic Review, ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, national human rights institutions and cause lawyering in the region. Drawing from his years of experience working for international organisations as well as a well published human rights researcher, Dr Gomez argued that civil society needs to innovate if it wants to rise above these four key challenges. The counter-measures he proposed are as follows: engage with conservative governments in the region while at the same time advocating publicly for human right issues; operate civil society initiatives through new organisational structures and approaches that see smaller boards, more decentralisation and being closer to the ground; approach funding with an entrepreneurial vision where civil society goes beyond donor funding and grants, and generates income through consultancy and services; and build coalitions across national, regional and international lines to withstand and seek support against Chinese interference into regional human rights issues. To sum up, Dr Gomez emphasised that approaches to human rights advocacy needs to constantly be calibrated without compromising on principles. Innovation is especially needed at present times in Southeast Asia as countries in the region regress towards authoritarianism. A podcast of the full speech can be accessed here.
Asia Centre at Webster University’s Career Fair
Asia Centre promoted its internship opportunities at Webster University’s Career Fair held on 29th March 2017. Asia Centre’s internships, which have been popular, attracted a flow of interested students from International Relations as well as from communication and business studies. Dr Robin Ramcharan and research intern Francesco Franzoi from Switzerland represented Asia Center at the Fair to introduce Asia Centre’s work, projects and activities. For example, our current interns assist with the preparation, research and marketing of the Centre’s upcoming International Conference on National Human Rights Institutions in Southeast Asia: Challenges of Protection in July 2017. Asia Centre’s had a busy day at the fair as many students gathered at the Centre’s desk to collect information. Starting the next day, several Webster University students applied for internships at the Asia Centre.
Celebrating Women in Law: Discussions on Access to Justice
A discussion on access to justice in Southeast Asia was undertaken by a panel of women lawyers on 29 March 2017 at the Asia Centre. The session, jointly organised by Asia Centre and Akin Asia, offered the opportunity to understand some of the systemic problems with regards to rule of law and access to justice that affect women in the region. It was also an opportunity to better understand the roles that different players in the legal process play. The event was attended by over 30 participants, many with a legal background, keen to engage with the panel of top female legal professionals. Celebrating Women in Law featured Emi Rowse, an Of Counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills; Sheila Varadan, a barrister/solicitor with over 12 years experience; Chayanich Thamparipattra, a social entrepreneur and a labour rights lawyer and Wipanan (Eve) Prasompluem, a Senior Associate at Allen & Overy and adjunct lecturer at Chulalongkorn University. The discussion was led by Emma Day, a human rights lawyer and co-founder of the International Child Redress Project (ICRP), a new startup non-profit organisation which is aiming to improve access to remedies for child victims of sexual exploitation The panelists discussed access to justice in the context of the domestic courts system and the international human rights framework. They shared their personal experience as well as expert opinion during the lively Q&A. The discussion touched on a range of issues including: Challenges to rule of law and a culture of impunity in many parts of Southeast Asia Alternative dispute resolution mechanisms Transitional justice Creating a culture where the notion of justice and the rights of the victim are valued Improvements in the law to enable access to justice The Q&A was followed by a networking session in which participants were able to interact with the panelists and further their discussions. Celebrating Women in Law was a platform to engage on critical issues impacting the region and showcase the role that women play advocating for justice. Asia Centre has organised a number of activities related to women’s rights such as Entering Femininity: Reporting Rituals and Violations and women’s political participation in A Political Utopia Called Singapore. The Centre will continue to convene activities on the role of women in law, human rights and development as a prelude to developing an Asia Centre gender programme.
Asia Centre at FCCT discussion on Human Rights in Southeast Asia
Asia Centre’s Dr Robin Ramcharan was part of panel discussion on the topic Human Rights in Southeast Asia: Retrospect and Prospect at the launch of SHAPE SEA’s Human Rights Outlook in Southeast Asia 2014-2015. Held on the evening of 9 March at the Foreign Correspondents Club Thailand, the event attracted about 40 participants from international and regional organisations, members of civil society, journalists, academics and students. Dr Ramcharan’s address focused on the positive trajectories for the future of human rights in the region, pointing to, inter alia, State engagement on human rights issues through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). He highlighted the need for more effective engagement with the UPR and a better understanding of how it can impact developments at the national and regional level, He pointed to Asia Centre’s forthcoming book on The Universal Periodic Review of Southeast Asia: Civil Society Perspectives which reviews civil society’s engagement with the UPR across two cycles, as an example of research that is filling a gap and supporting the work of civil society. Joining Dr Ramcharan on the panel were Dr. Seree Nonthasoot, Thailand’s representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), Ms Maita Chan-Gonzaga from Ateneo Law School Philippines, Dr Patricia Rinwigati Waagstein from Indonesia and Dr. Sriprapha Petcharamesree,Chair of the SHAPE-SEA programme. Programme Coordinator Michelle D’cruz and Research Intern Francesco Franzoi also represented the Centre at the event to introduce Asia Centre’s work, harness opportunities for collaboration with other institutions and organisations and raise awareness of upcoming projects such as the July 2017 International Conference on National Human Rights Institutions in Southeast Asia: Challenges of Protection, which builds on and extends the Centre’s research into the UPR.
Asia Centre at the Asia Pacific Youth Exchange Career Fair 2017
Asia Centre’s operations as a social enterprise and its programmatic focus on education and human rights attracted considerable attention at the Asia Pacific Youth Exchange (APYE) Career Fair held on 20th January 2017 at Bangkok University. The fair was part of the 3rd APYE organised by the Urban Youth Academy in conjunction with the Asian Development Bangkok and multiple UN agencies, with the objective of empowering youth to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.The career fair attracted some 130 international APYE delegates along with students from Bangkok based universities, keen to explore internship and career opportunities.
Briefing on ASEAN to Korea University Students
Students from Korea University received a briefing at Asia Centre on Tuesday, 17 January 2017, on contemporary challenges facing ASEAN. Dr. Robin Ramcharan lectured the undergraduates on regional geopolitical affairs, on ASEAN integration challenges and on the regional human rights mechanisms. The students were keenly interested in China’s engagement with ASEAN and in Thaland’s history, culture and political system. The students were accompanied Dr. Park Bun Soon of Korea University. Asia Centre welcomes such exchanges and looks forward to further exchanges with students and academics from Korea.
2nd Benedict Anderson Memorial Roundtable: Nationalism, Citizenship and Statelessness
The Benedict Anderson 1st Anniversary Memorial Roundtable was a tribute to the life and legacy of the late professor. Centring on the topic Nationalism, Citizenship and Statelessness: Current Issues and Developments in Asia, the discussion attracted an audience of some 65 people, and featured a panel of diverse expertise. This event follows our inaugural memorial Debating Imagined Communities: A Tribute to Benedict Anderson held on 30 January 2016, and will be an annual feature in the Asia Centre calendar. Professor Kenneth Christie of Royal Roads University in British Columbia, Canada, and an expert on peace, development and security, provided an overview of Anderson’s concept of “imagined communities”. The point was made that the nation-state and nationalism are modern constructions. Citizenship entailed a sense of shared community among diverse peoples with common values and rights. The construction of shared communities was a global phenomenon as Anderson sought to show in his comparisons of nationalist experiments around the world. Ms Chontida Auikool, a lecturer from Thammasat University’s ASEAN-China programme provided insight into the Indonesian Chinese community’s struggle for inclusion and integration, and how anti-Chinese sentiment plays out in contemporary developments. Maritime nomadic communities in the region who face inter-generational statelessness are often rendered invisible according to Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) Senior Programme Officer Ms. Helen Brunt. Using a case study of the communities in the Sulu Zone, she argued that migration flows in the region predate the development of nation states, a legacy that contributes to statelessness. Their lack of documentation and being labelled ‘illegal migrants’ condemns them to continued discrimination. Dr. Kevin Downey, a lecturer at Thammasat University and expert on political development, identity, civil society, and democratization in South and Southeast Asia discussed the lack of causal explanations for negative views on immigrants, ‘the other side of statelessness’. He went on to offer a hypothesis premised on the notion of insecurity and precarity in the era of globalisation, which features many dislocations and rising economic inequality. In the question and answer period moderated by Asia Centre’s Dr. Robin Ramcharan, potential flashpoints were mentioned. The two that were highlighted are: Rakhine State in Myanmar and the rise of intolerance in Indonesia. These are areas to monitor going forward, despite progress in democratizing both countries. A Life Beyond Boundaries The event also saw the Bangkok launch of Anderson’s memoir A Life Beyond Boundaries. Anderson defied his contemporaries by “globalizing” the study of nationalism and engaging in comparisons of seemingly disparate nation-states. In this work he also critically assesses the nation-state as a unit of analysis, noting that people globally formed communities around a great variety of interests that transcended boundaries and nations. A limited number of copies is available at Asia Centre for 450 Baht, if you are interested in getting a copy you can drop us an email at info@asiacentre.co.th. You can view images from the event here.
Asia Centre partners with Stenden University to teach ASEAN Studies
Asia Centre delivered a series of lectures on ASEAN and its international relations as the teaching partner of Stenden University’s, Thailand campus. Known as Stenden University of Applied Sciences, the Dutch university was created from the merger of CHN University Netherlands and Drenthe University, two premier institutions of higher education in the northern part of the Netherlands. The Thailand campus is part of Stenden’s overseas branches in South Africa, Qatar and Indonesia. The Asian Centre lectures complemented Stenden University’s ASEAN studies module in Thailand and were designed to provide a diverse class of international relations and business students with an introduction and insight to the regional association. The delivery of lecturers was part of Asia Centre’s education programme through which it partners with higher education institutions and think tanks to provide teaching services. These include specially designed curricula and tailored courses on a range of topics, from international relations to media and business and entrepreneurship. In total 3 lectures were delivered for Stenden and included in-class discussions, which allowed students to clarify their understanding of the issues and to attempt to critically analyse ASEAN’s security and human rights frameworks. Asia Centre and Stenden University are currently exploring further opportunities for educational partnership.