Civil Society Needs to Innovate to Combat Shrinking Space in Southeast Asia

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…

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Asia Centre at Webster University’s Career Fair

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…

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Celebrating Women in Law: Discussions on Access to Justice

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…

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Asia Centre at FCCT discussion on Human Rights in Southeast Asia

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…

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Asia Centre at the Asia Pacific Youth Exchange Career Fair 2017

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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.

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Briefing on ASEAN to Korea University Students

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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.

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2nd Benedict Anderson Memorial Roundtable: Nationalism, Citizenship and Statelessness

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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…

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Asia Centre partners with Stenden University to teach ASEAN Studies

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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…

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Spark Sessions #1

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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 and exploring collaboration among civil society. Held on evening of 25 November at Asia Centre’s premises, the event also provided youth participants with the opportunity to talk with representatives from NGOs and civil society about volunteer and internship opportunities. It was also an opportunity to learn about the key projects that these organisations have lined up for 2017.   Spark Sessions provided a much needed civic space for members of…

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The 2016 US Elections: Change At Last?

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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: Change At Last?” the event was held in partnership with the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA). The roundtable panel featured a former US ambassador, academics of various nationalities and disciplines and a journalist. All discussants provided their insight and analysis on the campaign period, what they saw as key determinants of the election and the impact the results would have on Asia. Margaret MacMillion, Former Ambassador of the United States…

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