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Asia Centre at FCCT discussion on Human Rights in Southeast Asia

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:20 March 2017
Post category:News

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…

Evaluating Competing “Democratic” Discourses: The Impact on Human Rights Protection in Southeast Asia

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:2 February 2017
Post category:Uncategorized

Gomez, James, and Robin Ramcharan (2014), Evaluating Competing “Democratic” Discourses: The Impact on Human Rights Protection in Southeast Asia, in: Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 33, 3, 49–77. Abstract This paper evaluates the impact of competing “democratic” discourses on human rights protection in Southeast Asia. The authors identify three key discourses emanating from a set of national governmental policies, advocacy positions promoted by both global and local civil society and international standards and procedures adopted by members of inter-governmental organisations. These discourses, the authors argue, are collectively shaping the emerging ASEAN inter-governmental human rights regime. The political impact of…

Introduction: Democracy and Human Rights in Southeast Asia

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:2 February 2017
Post category:Uncategorized

Gomez, James, and Robin Ramcharan (2014), Introduction: Democracy and Human Rights in Southeast Asia, in: Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 33, 3, 3–17. Abstract Southeast Asia has been undergoing a transition to more democratic forms of governance over the last two decades. The 2007 Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) stated that henceforth ASEAN would pursue democratic forms of governance, the rule of law and the attendant fundamental human rights, which are the hallmark of liberal democratic states. This major normative evolution is one chapter of ASEAN’s post-Cold War efforts to deepen its members’ interactions in…

The Protection of Human Rights in Southeast Asia, Improving the Effectiveness of Civil Society. Asia-Pacific Journal on Human Rights and the Law

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:2 February 2017
Post category:Uncategorized

James Gomez & Robin Ramcharan, The Protection of Human Rights in Southeast Asia, Improving the Effectiveness of Civil Society. Asia-Pacific Journal on Human Rights and the Law (2) (2012) 27-43 1. Introduction A nascent human rights regime is emerging in Southeast Asia, one equipped with an institutional body, the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and a normative framework enshrined in the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD). While advocacy Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are playing a vital shadowing role that confronts ASEAN governments with the need to craft a credible protection mechanism, the lack of formal consultation with the current…

Asia Centre at the Asia Pacific Youth Exchange Career Fair 2017

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:25 January 2017
Post category:News

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

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:19 January 2017
Post category:News

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

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:19 January 2017
Post category:News

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…

Asia Centre partners with Stenden University to teach ASEAN Studies

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:19 January 2017
Post category:News

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…

The Universal Periodic Review of Southeast Asia: Civil Society Perspectives

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:11 January 2017
Post category:Books

Buy Now Abstract The Universal Periodic Review of Southeast Asia: Civil Society Perspectives provides a stakeholder analysis of human rights protection on the ground. The book reviews Southeast Asia’s civil society engagement with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council during the first (2008-2011) and second (2012-2016) cycle. Through evidence-based research the book identifies gaps in human rights reporting and advocacy during the UPR, notably on civil and political issues such as the right to life, freedom of expression, freedom of religion and belief, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, territorial autonomy and separation. The book highlights the…

Spark Sessions #1

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:7 December 2016
Post category:News

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…