From October 14 to 17 2016, Asia Centre in partnership with International Forum for Inter-Media Art and Brack organised a cross-sector collaboration workshop. Conceptualised by Asia Centre Associate and iFima founder Dr Jay Koh, the 4 day conference cum workshop; explored how to stir civic consciousness and foster open social structures through public participation and engagement. The opening session on the 14th of October featured a discussion on Engaged Listening Across Fields of Practice with Dr Patama Satawedin (Som), Director of the Master of Communication Arts Programme at Bangkok University and Dr Jeremiah F. Morris, lecturer in Media and Communications at…

New York-based Japanese photographer and anti-death penalty activist Toshi Kazama held a photo exhibition and discussion of his work on 11 October 2016 at The Sukosol Hotel. Asia Centre facilitated the discussion and networking session following Mr Kazama’s presentation which focused on how he uses photography as a tool to express his point of view on human rights and specifically on the death penalty. A diverse crowd of about 35 people came together to listen to Mr Kazama narrate the stories behind each picture exhibited; those of people on death row and the execution methods in various countries. Asia Centre’s…

From 19 to 30 September 2016, Asia Centre held a Media & Communications Workshop for students from the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. The two week experiential learning programme was designed to give students an introduction to the Asian media landscape, hone their practical skills and undertake a multimedia project of their own. The programme kicked off with an orientation to the course and brainstorming for their media project under the guidance of Asia Centre’s Dr. James Gomez and Dr Robin. Ramcharan. The group then participated in a team building scavenger hunt to help them work together and learn to…

The UPR has been an effective mechanism for putting human rights issues on the agenda and engaging states in conversation about critical issues. However, systemic problems remain with regards to engagement with other stakeholders, the implementation of recommendations by governments, the efficacy of follow up processes and the UPR’s ability to address hard political issues. These were key takeaways from Asia Centre’s conference, Universal Periodic Review in Southeast Asia: An Evidence-Based Regional Assessment, held from 15 to 17 September 2016 at Asia Centre’s premises in Bangkok.Asia Centre's first international conference on the Universal Periodic Review in Southeast Asia was held…

UK voters were not properly informed by political leaders about the functions, institutions and powers of the EU, which has made a great contribution to the prosperity of the UK and peace in Europe. As a result, Britain’s referendum vote of 23 June 2016 ended up with a “leave the European Union (EU)” result – aka ‘Brexit’. This was the key conclusion from Asia Centre’s roundtable which attracted some 50 participants from academia, international organizations, the media, the NGO community, the public sector and the private sector.   The panel (L-R) was moderated by Asia Centre's Dr Robin Ramcharan and…

Cause lawyers set themselves apart in their profession by using the law as tool for social justice. They protect the rights of marginalised communities and bridge the gap between law as it is written in the books and the law as it is lived and experienced.   This was how our panelists described the linchpin role that cause lawyers play in advocating for justice. Cause Lawyering: In Conversation With Regional Advocates was held on 14 May 2016 and attracted about 20 participants.   Mr. Henning Glaser, Director of the  German-Southeast Asia Centre of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance…