Indigenous communities across Asia are denied equal treatment and face significant challenges related to rights, representation and safety. Despite official legal recognition, these communities often feel powerless as the civic space to advocate for their rights and needs is diminishing. This was the core message delivered via the panel titled “The Vanguards of Change and Opportunities for Indigenous Youth and Women" held by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) during Asia Centre’s 9th Conference “Shrinking Civic Space in Asia: Stories of Resistance and Pushback” in Bangkok from 21 to 23 August 2024. The panel served as a…

From 21 to 23 August 2024, Asia Centre convened its 9th International Conference on "Shrinking Civic Space in Asia: Stories of Resistance and Pushback". Held on-site at the Pullman G Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, the event brought together 120 participants from 27 countries, including members of INGOs, civil society organisations (CSOs), policymakers, and academics. The conference provided a platform for these stakeholders to discuss the challenges to civic space across the region, focusing not only on the difficulties that many actors currently face but also on their stories of resilience and resistance. Against the backdrop of increasing restrictions on freedom…

Asia Centre hosted the 2024 Oxfam Young Leader Fellowship Programme from 1st to the 5th of July 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. This is the second cohort (read about the first cohort here), in which the fellowship aims to equip eight youths from eight different countries in Asia with the tools, skills, knowledge and networks to drive positive change in their communities. Apart from a week of onsite induction, close mentorship and hands-on practice will be other ways in which the fellows will be supported throughout the fellowship.The eight fellows chosen for the 2024 cohort are Seena Kimhoihching from India, Achmad…

CSOs in the region are confronting significant surveillance and privacy threats, but there are actionable steps they can take to mitigate these risks. This consensus emerged from the Asia Centre’s event on 18 July 2024, titled “Surveillance & Privacy: Safeguarding CSOs in the Age of Digital Threats”. 32 attendees, including CSOs from across the region joined the event which was part of the Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organisations, jointly organised by Asia Centre and Google Asia Pacific. Commencing in December 2023, the year-long Digital Rights Programme includes thematic online and onsite activities aimed at bringing CSOs together to address…

On 17 June 2024, nearly 50 representatives from local civil society organisations (CSOs) in Cambodia participated in the event “Digital Technology in Cambodia: Challenges and Opportunities” held in Phnom Penh. During the event, panellists and participants highlighted that, given the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping Cambodia’s society, the voices of CSOs must be heard in relevant discussions to ensure technological developments contribute to creating a just society.During the event, five panellists shared their experiences of using digital technology in their work, reflecting on how the popularisation of these tools has transformed Cambodian society and discussing potential future changes…

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the region can play an important role to strengthen media literacy for underrepresented groups - this was the thrust of the online panel discussion held on 16 May 2024 convened by Asia Centre.The event is a part of the Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organisations, convened by Asia Centre with support from Google Asia Pacific, to engage CSOs and their partners that currently work on the issues facing digital rights in the Asia-Pacific region. The programme, which started in December 2023, spans a year-long run of thematic online and onsite activities to bring CSOs…

Around 50 individuals from CSOs, diplomatic missions, media, think tanks, and universities gathered at Taiwan National University on 16 April 2024 to discuss concerns related to disinformation—the biggest digital threat facing the country. During the session, seven panellists shared their observations that there is a need to go beyond fact-checking and media literacy and focus on shifting the narratives disrupted by disinformation.The event co-convened by Asia Centre and Office of International Affairs, National Taiwan University (NTU-OIA) with support from Google, is part of a year long Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organisations. This meeting in Taiwan is part of…

Asia Centre’s Training Hub will enhance capacity in Cambodia by undertaking research and implementing customised training programmes for community organisations, government agencies, media organisations, non-governmental organisations, and universities.The Centre will deliver its capacity-building activities by: undertaking evidence-based needs assessments; design training programmes and curriculum, provide trainers to deliver ‘train-the-trainer’ and end beneficiary sessions; track the delivery of training programmes; and produce training evaluation reports.In order to undertake these activities in March 2024, Asia Centre established its Training Hub at the Toul Kork district in Phnom Penh. This area was chosen to ensure the Centre’s operations are close to the community,…

On April 5, 2024, the Asia Centre held a briefing for Bangkok-based diplomatic missions accredited to Cambodia. The briefing covered Asia Centre’s work in Cambodia, introduced its new Training Hub in Phnom Penh, and provided some preliminary findings from its research on electoral integrity in Cambodia.The briefing was attended by key diplomatic missions, including the Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland and Japan embassies, INGOs engaged with Cambodia, and several Australian New Colombo Plan Scholars based in Thailand. Also in attendance was Emeritus Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn in his academic role, who is also concurrently the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights…

From 14 to 19 March 2024, Asia Centre’s Regional Director, Dr. James Gomez visited Seoul, the capital of South Korea, to speak at three separate panels during which he called for a stronger partnership for democracy in Asia.  These panels were either organised or supported by the Global Democracy Coalition (GDC) during the week of the 3rd Summit for Democracy 2024. The GDC, convened by International IDEA, and supported by its democracy partners, aims to facilitate dialogue, exchange knowledge, and advocate for democracy, not only during the Summits for Democracy but also champion the democracy agenda at other international and…