In his remarks on “Sources of Democratic Resilience in Asia,” Asia Centre’s Regional Director, Dr. James Gomez, underscored the role of civil society as a key pillar in sustaining democratic systems and said this is best done in partnership with democracy supporting political parties. He made this point during the Policy Roundtable on Democratic Resilience in Southeast and East Asia, as a speaker in Panel I: “Analyzing Democratic Resilience: Sources and Challenges,” on 27 March 2026. From 26 to 28 March 2026 in Manila, Philippines, Dr. Gomez participated in a multi-day programme convened by the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats…

On 17 March at the 2026 Yushan Forum, Asia Centre’s Regional Director, Dr. James Gomez expounded on the concept of “civic power” (view the TikTok video) as the critical voice of civil society that speaks out when democratic processes are challenged during Session VII: NGO Corridor-Mobilizing Civic Power to Connect Free Societies.He further elaborated that civil society has a central role as the “heartbeat of democracy” and serves as an important barometer of democratic resilience. Hence, from the Asia Centre’s perspective, there is a need to strengthen regional networks and support civil society organisations (CSOs) as key actors in advancing…

Asia Centre has played an active role in advancing digital security and online resilience in Indonesia, working in close collaboration with a diverse range of partners, including civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, learning centres, community-based platforms, and underrepresented groups. Its initiatives seek to empower youth advocates, women’s groups, and other stakeholders to navigate digital spaces safely, promote online safety, and counter cyber threats, thereby fostering inclusive and secure digital participation across communities.These activities, initiated in 2024 in partnership with Google Asia and the Pacific and sustained throughout 2025 into early 2026, have received encouraging feedback from partners and participants. Key…

In the Philippines, attacks against Indigenous Peoples (IPs) are increasingly legitimised by climate disinformation which falsely labels their environmental defence as terrorism, enabling the continued use of ancestral lands for industrial expansion.This was the central finding presented at a national convening reviewing the preliminary outcomes of Asia Centre’s forthcoming report Climate Disinformation in the Philippines: Legitimising Attacks on Indigenous Peoples. Attended by over 70 people, the convening took place on 24 March 2026 and was organised by Asia Centre, in partnership with International Media Support (IMS) and the Center for Dialogue, Research and Collaboration (Tagpuan Ateneo) at Ateneo de Manila…

On 13 March 2026, Asia Centre hosted the launch of the Honorary Office of the Korea Democracy Foundation (KDF) at its Research Hub in Bangkok, Thailand. It completed the reciprocal establishment of honorary offices by the Asia Centre and the Korea Democracy Foundation as both organisations mark a new phase in their cooperation to advance democratic dialogue and regional collaboration across Asia. In attendance was the delegation from KDF, which included Mr. Lee Jae-oh – President of KDF, Mr. Lee Young-je – Director of the Exchange and Cooperation Office at KDF, and Mr. Kim Chanho – Team Leader of the Global…

Over the past decade, from 2016 to 2025, Asia Centre’s annual conferences have evolved from a modest gathering of researchers and civil society actors into one of the region’s regular convening platforms on democracy and human rights.Having completed 10 impactful years of conference convening, the Asia Centre annual conference now enters a new chapter. Beginning with its 11th edition, the annual Conference will be rebranded as the Asia Centre Summit – marking a significant step forward in institutionalising the annual Conference as a leading regional forum for dialogue and collaboration.Needless to say, the Summit will remain guided by a consistent…

Indigenous Peoples’ (IPs) vulnerabilities in Indonesia are being exacerbated by climate disinformation that prioritises national development narratives over Indigenous rights and knowledge systems. This was the central finding presented at a national convening reviewing the preliminary outcomes of Asia Centre’s forthcoming report, “Climate Disinformation in Indonesia: Prioritising Development Over Indigenous Peoples’ Vulnerability”. Attended by nearly 40 people, the event took place on 21 January 2026 at Aloft Jakarta Wahid Hasyim Hotel, Jakarta. The convening was organised by Asia Centre in partnership with International Media Support (IMS) and brought together journalists, civil society actors, Indigenous rights advocates, and policy experts. The…

Misleading climate narratives that support the appropriation of Indigenous Peoples entitlements and distort public understanding of land rights have become a growing concern in Malaysia. These dynamics are captured in the initial findings of “Climate Disinformation in Malaysia: Appropriating Indigenous Peoples’ Rights”, which were shared during a national convening held on 7 January 2026 in Asia Centre Media Hub, Iskandar Puteri.  The convening brought together approximately 30 Indigenous representatives, civil society groups, journalists, and academics to unpack how climate disinformation is affecting Indigenous communities in Malaysia and to explore collective strategies for addressing its impact. The event began with opening remarks…

When Asia Centre announced its opening in 2015, M Ravi was one of the very first people from Singapore to reach out. He said the Centre’s human rights mission aligned with his own, and wanted to engage with the Asia Centre’s regional approach to democracy and human rights.At the time, Ravi was facing intense legal pressure, negative media publicity, internal tensions within the local death penalty movement and challenges to his law practice – all contributing to mixed public opinion on the death penalty in Singapore.      In Asia Centre, he sought a respite, an opportunity to extend his networks to the…

With the 9th Southeast Asia Freedom of Religion or Belief (SEAFORB) Conference, which took place from 27 - 28 November 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Network continues to serve as a key regional mechanism for coordination, knowledge-sharing and joint advocacy. Guided by its 2024–2026 Strategic Plan, the SEAFORB Conference brought together 48 members and partners from across the Southeast Asian region and also from certain countries beyond the region to examine emerging FoRB challenges, develop collective strategies, and reinforce solidarity in an increasingly restrictive environment.The SEAFORB Conference is the annual regional gathering of the SEAFORB Network, a civil society–led platform…