Asia Centre Presents the Preliminary Results of Cambodia’s Media Landscape Assessment
On 27 October 2023, Asia Centre convened the second meeting of the multi-stakeholder advisory board to present the preliminary findings of its study for the “Assessment of Media Development in Cambodia”. The meeting took place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Phnom Penh and was attended by 23 participants, including representatives from the relevant ministries, diplomatic missions, media-related CSOs, journalists, and media professionals. Sardar Umar Alam, UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, and Dr James Gomez from the Asia Centre gave the welcome remarks, outlining the importance of using UNESCO’s media indicators to assess the media landscape in the country and also provided an overview of the progress achieved so far in doing such an assessment. In the second part of the session, Dr Marc Pinol Rovira, from Asia Centre, presented the preliminary findings in five parts, one for each category of indicators: media-related regulation; plurality and diversity of the media sector; the role of media as a platform for democratic discourse; professional capacity building and supporting institutions for media professionals; and infrastructural capacity. Then, a question and answer session took place, in which participants could seek clarifications and also had the opportunity to provide their input for the research team at Asia Centre to complete the report. The session concluded with the closing remarks by Mikel Aguirre Idiaquez, UNESCO’s Project Officer, which also included a brief outline of the project’s next steps. After this meeting, the primary data collection process will continue, followed by the drafting of the report. Asia Centre will convene a validation meeting in December, also in Phnom Penh, to present the findings of the report to the members of the advisory board. Upon completion of the project, the report will provide a policy toolkit for government agencies, such as the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and media practitioners to contribute to the development of the media landscape in the country in light of the ongoing developments like the constant and rapid evolution of the digital sphere and the increasing importance role of artificial intelligence. The Centre undertook the assessment in partnership with UNESCO and the Department of Media and Communication (DMC) of the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). Asia Centre is a civil society research institute in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It serves as a knowledge partner and undertakes evidence-based research as well as provides capacity-building training for end beneficiaries. If you would like to collaborate with the Centre, please send an expression of interest to contact@asiacentre.org.
IFSEA End-of-Project Partners’ Meeting Prepares for New Challenges, Strategises for Phase II
At the Internet Freedoms for Southeast Asia (IFSEA) End-of-Project Partners’ Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, there was broad consensus among the more than 20 participants that more still need to be done to protect digital rights. Three focus areas identified were: advocacy with governments, building coalitions in the region with other like-minded stakeholders, and implementing capacity-building activities. The partners’ meeting took place from 1–3 November 2023, co-convened by Asia Centre and the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL). It was attended by representatives from the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA), Open Development Cambodia (ODC), KRYSS Network, Hadomi Timor Foundation–FONGTIL, and the Timorese Association for Progressive Media and Technology. The meeting marked the conclusion of the IFSEA project that started in 2021, undertaken by ICNL with the support of Asia Centre as the regional partner, and Southeast Asian country partners from Cambodia, Malaysia, and Timor-Leste between 2021 and 2023. The End-of-Project Partners meeting built upon the IFSEA Regional Conference in May 2023 where there were some discussions on forming coalitions and networks. The opening remarks were delivered by Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre and Zach Lampell, Senior Legal Advisor at ICNL, who then presented a recap of the IFSEA project. Both stressed the successes of the IFSEA project, and the need to sustain the impact through continued collaboration. Asia Centre’s collaboration with ICNL has included four baseline studies on internet freedoms in Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Cambodia and Malaysia, published between 2021-2023. Using these findings, the partner organisations undertook research, assessed the current legal frameworks, gave recommendations and carried out other advocacy activities to influence policies in their respective countries. Over two and a half days, the partners discussed their project designs, challenges encountered, lessons learnt, and the impacts achieved. This included reflections on how, where, and whom their projects had impacted. The meeting also looked forward in terms of stating broad objectives, setting priorities and discussing strategies to achieve them. To that end, partners also considered financial resources, expert knowledge, and regional networks to facilitate future project implementation. Concluding the meeting, three key ideas emerged which would frame future activities: Firstly, continued advocacy to revise restrictive legislation and to enact data privacy protection laws, as well as to promote greater – and more inclusive – internet access. Secondly, building a coalition that could facilitate a regional-level engagement. Thirdly, capacity-building activities – for the public, in the form of digital media information literacy; and for civil society organisations (CSOs) to effectively promote internet freedoms and digital rights. This meeting was complemented by a side event on 2 November 2023, a one-day roundtable discussion on “Internet Freedom and Digital Rights in Timor-Leste” organised for Timor-Leste participants. It was attended by representatives from over half a dozen diverse organisations from that country, and aimed to promote dialogue between Timorese CSOs, media, youth activists, and public institutions. Participants discussed the current challenges and practices pertaining to law, institutions and journalism in Timor-Leste. They also addressed the obstacles and strategies concerning information and communication technology, the telecommunications market, and the digital divide within the country. The End-of-Project Partners’ Meeting brought the three-year IFSEA project officially to a close. Partners from Cambodia, Malaysia, and Timor-Leste remained committed to developing and expanding their coalition and agreed to work on joint activities in the future. Asia Centre is a civil society research institute in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It serves as a knowledge partner and undertakes evidence-based research as well as provides capacity-building training for end beneficiaries. If you would like to collaborate with the Centre, please send an expression of interest to contact@asiacentre.org.
Asia Centre Signs MoU with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
On 20 October 2023, Asia Centre and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their existing cooperation and explore opportunities for future collaboration in media and communications-related activities, research and training developments. The signatories were Dr James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre, and Professor Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. The MoU signing ceremony included an introduction to Asia Centre, and an overview of Asia Centre covering its scope, programme areas, and partners, which were presented by Dr. James Gomez and Dr. Marc Piñol Rovira. Professor Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, who represented UNIMAS, gave a brief introduction to the university and the faculty of Education, Language and Communication. The Memorandum of Understanding is the outcome of a positive partnership between Asia Centre and the Faculty for the ASEAN Digital Literacy Programme (ADLP) Training of Trainers, which took place this year on 11 March 2023 at the Faculty’s premises. This programme is supported by Google and, in partnership with the ASEAN Foundation, is implemented to promote Media Information Literacy (ToT) training for trainers in Malaysia. This training aims to produce competent trainers on digital and media literacy by providing them with resources on information disorders and tools to combat disinformation. Details of these in-person Master Trainer Trainings can be accessed in this article. Under the supervision and support of the faculty’s Dean, Prof. Dr Ambigapathy Pandian, the ADLP training of Trainers with UNIMAS has successfully produced 15 trainers eligible to become master trainers for the programme, who, in turn, trained more than 2,000 End Beneficiaries this year. The Asia Centre-UNIMAS MOU is part of the Centre’s continuous engagement with Malaysia. Since 2016, the Centre has collaborated with many local universities in Malaysia, as well as academics and human rights activists, to organise roundtable discussions and seminars on Malaysian affairs. A roundtable discussion was held in June 2018 on that year’s general elections in Malaysia, an event that was supported by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. In April 2019, Asia Centre jointly organised a seminar “Fake News Industry: Developments in SEA & Malaysia”, with the University of Nottingham Malaysia and Gerakbudaya Bookshop. In December of the same year, Asia Centre and Oxfam in Asia held the Malaysia launch of the Journalism for an Equitable Asia Award, supported by local partners Gerakbudaya and Orchan Consulting Asia. In October 2021, the Centre co-convened with the School of Media and Communication of Taylor’s University Malaysia a webinar on “Media Ethics and Journalism in Malaysia”, supported by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. In 2022, following the release of Asia Centre’s and Google’s report Youth and Disinformation in Malaysia: Strengthening Electoral Integrity, the Centre signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Taylor’s University Malaysia’s Faculty of Sciences & Leisure Management in September. This was the first MoU with a Malaysian tertiary institution, and was signed prior to the launch of the Youth and Disinformation in Malaysia report, hosted by the university’s School of Media and Communications. The event attracted over 100 attendees. In March 2023, Asia Centre held a few activities to launch its latest Malaysia report, Internet Freedoms in Malaysia: Regulating Online Discourse on Race, Religion, and Royalty. First released online to the public and media in January, it was covered by several media publications and accompanied by an op-ed by Dr, James Gomez, and two podcasts. In addition, the Centre has held consultations and presentations related to Malaysia. In 2017, 11 country reports, including one for Malaysia, were jointly produced with the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB). They were released at the IPPFoRB conference for ASEAN Parliamentarians in Bangkok, Thailand in October 2017. The baseline study Harmony Laws in Southeast Asia: Majority Dominance, Minority Repression was released online in November 2021 as part of the 7th annual Southeast Asian Freedom of Religious Belief (SEAFoRB) Conference. This study reviewed how “harmony” and similar laws in Malaysia and three other Southeast Asian states have limited freedom of religion or beliefs, and also accentuated racial discrimination. Asia Centre’s studies on Malaysia have also been featured in Malaysian and other media such as Malaysiakini, Mashable SE Asia, and the Malay Mail; op-eds by Dr. James Gomez in theVibes.com and the Malay Mail; and podcasts such as on BFM 89.9. Catch the highlights of the ADLP training with UNIMAS in this TikTok video at our Asia Centre TikTok page. If you are interested in collaborating with the Asia Centre, do send an email to contact@asiacentre.org.
Asia Centre & International IDEA: Forecasting Democratic Futures in the Asia-Pacific for 2024
Asia Centre and The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) co-convened the Democracy in Asia and the Pacific 2024 Outlook Forum in Bangkok, Thailand on 19-20 October 2023. This was the 2nd Outlook Forum organised by International IDEA, and was attended by more than 20 participants from various INGOs and NGOs, academic institutions, as well as researchers and activists. The Forum sought to explore uncertainties and emerging issues, using foresight methodologies, that may impact the future of democracy in the Asia-Pacific. The welcome and opening remarks were delivered by Leena Rikkilä Tamang, Director for Asia and the Pacific at International IDEA, and Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre. Leena Rikkilä Tamang thanked the participants, acknowledging the range of expertise gathered to discuss the likely futures for democracy in the region. She said that most changes were slow and incremental, but sometimes there were moments in history that were hard to predict but possible to imagine. Dr. James Gomez spoke on the need to work more with local communities and organisations, rather than have over-reliance on international experts and specialists for policy advice. He also recommended that organisations work with selected partners to build continuity and maintain strong relationships, rather than becoming part of broad coalitions that are witnessing decreasing utility and benefit for their members. Dr. Seema Shah, Head of Democracy Assessment Unit at International IDEA, presented an overview of the organisation’s “The Global State of Democracy 2023” report with these key findings: 2022 was the sixth consecutive year in which overall democratic performance declined; at the same time, participation in democratic processes have increased, which is a hopeful signal. There have also been gains in the fight against corruption. Although there has been stability across the Asia-Pacific from 2017-2022, there was a low level of democratic performance. Respect for civil liberties has continued to decline, and the rule of law has varied greatly across the region. Nevertheless, democratic participation has continued to thrive. This Forum examined five main areas: the future of elections, gender and democracy, protection of civic space, and climate change through the lens of PESTLE factors: politics, economics, social, technological, legal, and environmental. On the first day of the Forum, the participants engaged in mapping signals of change, including exploring how signals “collide” to determine possible futures. The final objective was to interpret which signals were more important than others, and to place them into different categories for further analysis. The second day saw participants delve deeper into the signals and drivers that create change. They then came up with scenarios in order to communicate to others and inform decision-makers about potential changes, risks and opportunities for democracy in the region. This 2024 Outlook Forum was the first time in which in which IDEA and Asia Centre used foresight methodologies to better inform decision-making and agenda-setting processes, with the aim of forecasting and transforming the future of democracy. The concrete outcome of the Forum’s deliberations is envisaged to be in the next Democracy in Asia and the Pacific 2024 Outlook report, to be published by International IDEA. This two-day event continued Asia Centre’s engagement with International IDEA. During International IDEA’s inaugural Outlook Forum in Bali, Indonesia in December 2022, Dr. James Gomez delivered a presentation on the rise of disinformation. For more information on International IDEA’s 1st Democracy in Asia and the Pacific 2023 Outlook Forum, please visit this link here. Shortly after, on 8 December 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand, the two organisations held a closed-door consultation on ‘Digital Authoritarianism in Southeast Asia’, gathering more than 20 participants from diplomatic missions, UN agencies, INGOs, CSOs and new media experts. At this meeting, Asia Centre and International IDEA also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a formal partnership. The MoU paved the way for International IDEA to become a title partner at Asia Centre’s 8th International Conference on Democracy and Elections in Asia, held in Bangkok from 23-25 August 2023. International IDEA hosted two panels and a demonstration session, with opening remarks given by Leena Rikkilä Tamang. Asia Centre and International IDEA will continue their work together. The two organisations are discussing joint research ideas and will further deepen their partnership over the course of this year and 2024. Some of this work is aimed to contribute to Asia Centre’s 9th International Conference on Shrinking Civic Space in Asia: Stories of Resistance and Pushback, to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from 21-23 August 2024.
Asia Centre-Radio Taiwan International MOU to Further Media Collaboration
On 25 September 2023, Asia Centre and Radio Taiwan International (Rti), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The aim is to establish a framework to engage in future media collaboration. The signatories were Dr James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre, and Ms Cheryl Lai, Chairperson of Rti. The MoU signing ceremony included short introductions to Asia Centre, its research activities, and the upcoming 9th International Conference. These were presented by Dr. James Gomez, Dr. Marc Piñol Rovira, and Ms Lina Salim, respectively. Mr Carlson Huang, Rti Manager of International Languages, introduced Rti to the attendees. Rti is the only international broadcaster representing Taiwan, broadcasting news and programmes in 20 languages globally. In Southeast Asia, it first established a Thai-language service in 1957 and has, over the years, expanded into the region. The Rti partnership with Asia Centre signals a move to go beyond traditional media partners and engage with a regional focal point such as the Centre and reach out to other stakeholders. The MoU was signed following Dr Gomez’s initial visit to Rti’s headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan, on 11 September 2023, together with Chris Liu, head of the Taiwan office of Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD). The visit was a meet-and-greet session for both organisations to get acquainted with each others’ work. The meeting quickly led to the first partnership with Asia Centre’s co-convening of Rti’s Taiwan Forum in Bangkok on 22 September 2023. The Forum’s theme, “Post-Pandemic Asia’s Prospects”, focused on the best ways to combat the spread of disinformation and information warfare. Dr. Gomez, in his opening remarks at the event, outlined how Artificial Intelligence stands to flood social media platforms with software-generated content, which in turn can spur an exponential rise in disinformation. He said organic and verified content will increasingly become rare and has to be defended. The Asia Centre-Rti MOU is part of the Centre’s long-time engagement with Taiwan. In 2019 Asia Centre had a series of meetings with Taiwanese institutions. These activities included events and meetings to strengthen relationships with Taiwanese think-tanks, universities, and other institutions and to present the Centre’s research on disinformation in Taipei. For his engagement with Taiwan, in 2020, Dr. James Gomez was awarded Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fellowship, to undertake research at National Cheng Chi University. These engagements have continued through 2023. In July, a Taiwanese team participated in the joint Asia Centre-Friedrich Naumann Foundation Hackathon, and in August, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD) was for the 8th time a title partner for Asia Centre’s 8th International Conference on Democracy and Elections in Asia, held in Bangkok, Thailand. A photo album of the signing ceremony is available on Asia Centre’s Facebook page. If you are interested in collaborating with the Asia Centre, do send an email to contact@asiacentre.org.
8th International Conference (2023): Democracy and Elections in Asia
From 23 to 25 August 2023, Asia Centre convened its 8th International Conference on “Democracy and Elections in Asia”. The conference marked a return to fully on-site participation, with over 130 attendees hailing from more than 20 countries. Asia has been buzzing with elections since 2022 with the Presidential Election in the Philippines, South Korea, and Sri Lanka, the Chief Executive Election in Hong Kong, General Elections in Malaysia and Nepal, and Gubernatorial Elections in Japan. 2023 continued with the Presidential Elections in Bangladesh, China, and Singapore, General Elections in Cambodia and Thailand, and State Elections in Malaysia. More elections will take place in 2024 in India, Indonesia, and Taiwan. Hence, the conference was timely to examine the relationship between democracy and elections and exchange experiences from Asia. For the 2023 conference, Asia Centre established title partnerships with The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD), The International Development Research Center (IDRC), Chiang Mai University, and Google; panel partnerships with 13 organisations and institutions: Badan Keahlian DPR RI – Expertise Agency of The Indonesian House of Representatives (BKD), The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), Destination Justice, Thuraisingam International, Hashtag Generation, The International Republican Institute (IRI), The Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB), Graduate School of Letters, Osaka University, Pacifica G.K., The Asia Foundation, Media Studies and Journalism Department, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), and The National Democratic Institute (NDI). Additionally, the Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC) and Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law were two organisations that engaged as participant partners. Across 21 panels, 90 speakers engaged with the audience, with 53% male and 47% female presenters. Throughout the three days, the following major themes were discussed: the role and activism of youth, women, minority groups and social movements in democratic political participation; the impact of law, money, technology and social media towards electoral behaviours and processes; and on the competency of electoral institutions in pursuing accountability and implementation of anti-corruption measures. Additionally, six country panels covered Myanmar, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, providing an insider look into these nations’ experiences in building democratic resilience. The inaugural evening featured a warm welcome to Thailand from Dr. James Gomez, Asia Centre’s Regional Director, and Leena Rikkilä Tamang, Director for Asia and the Pacific at International IDEA. The opening panel, hosted by International IDEA, explored a range of issues regarding elections under the current junta regime and prospects of democratic elections for Myanmar’s future. The panel of distinguished country experts and activists unanimously agreed that civil society actors should withhold support for the forthcoming elections until the junta regime can guarantee fair and equitable elections for all of its citizens. Thus they highlighted the need for a more inclusive political participation for ethno-religious communities, women, and youth. The second day started with official welcome remarks from Dr. James Gomez, followed by remarks by representatives of the conference’s title partners: Markham Erickson, Vice President of Google’s Government Affairs and Public Policy, Leena Rikkilä Tamang, Director for Asia and the Pacific of International IDEA, Caroline Ford, Director of International Development Research Centre (IDRC)’s Democratic and Inclusive Governance Division, and Associate Professor Dr. Pailin Phujeenaphan, Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and Public Administration, Chiang Mai University. Dr. James Gomez informed the audience on how the annual conference has evolved over the years to become a strategic space for INGOs and their partners to not just convene to discuss key democracy and human rights issues, but also to engage in networking with representatives from civil society organisations, diplomatic missions, international institutions, parliaments, technology companies, and universities (see speech here). In its eighth year, Asia Centre’s international conference has become a premier regional event. Markham Erickson of Google provided an overview of how this technology company contributes to supporting democratic electoral processes by making official information about elections easily accessible to the voters on its platforms, protecting electoral information against disinformation online, building free products to enhance cybersecurity protection, and supporting political parties in managing their digital presence online through its various platforms. Caroline Ford of IDRC highlighted the need to build and protect a vibrant and inclusive civic space to support democratic values. Acknowledging the threats of disinformation disorders and electoral violence, IDRC is determined to provide its support for transformative research on democracies to not only strengthen the civic space but also to ensure continuous engagement with the public mandate throughout the electoral process. Leena Rikkilä Tamang of International IDEA remarked on the importance of addressing both traditional and modern challenges to election integrity happening across the Asian region, and International IDEA strives to address two of the core issues: the disenfranchisement of migrants towards political suffrage and the usage of technology to facilitate accessible electoral processes in its two other panels in the conference. Associate Professor Dr. Pailin Phujeenaphan of Chiang Mai University underlined the importance of having a safe and open platform for academics and ground actors to convene and discuss issues on democracy, to enable knowledge sharing and mutual learning from each others’ experience in dealing with the regression of electoral integrity. The welcome remarks were then followed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between Asia Centre and Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation as represented by Patcharee Rattanarong, Centre Manager of Asia Centre and Asako Haga, Manager of THINK Lobby/JANIC. JANIC has been a partner of Asia Centre for many years, having collaborated in producing reports and digital media content, most recently on the report “Foreign Interference Laws in Southeast Asia: Deepening the Shrinkage of Civic Space in February 2023. Alongside the report, this collaboration produced a podcast series, a collection of infographic posters and an informative infographic video to disseminate further the report’s findings to the larger public. On the second day, speakers from across eleven panels addressed challenges to democratic integrity in the region threatened by authoritarian regimes, lack of accountability
CMU POL: Thailand’s Democracy Remains in a Quagmire after the 2023 General Election
Chiang Mai University, a title partner for Asia Centre’s 8th International Conference “Democracy and Elections in Asia” on 23 to 25 August 2023, through its welcome remarks and panel analysed the outcomes of Thailand’s 2023 General Election and whether the polls would actually return the kingdom to democracy. Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and Public Administration, Chiang Mai University, Asst. Prof. Dr. Pailin Phujeenaphan, in her welcome remarks, observed that despite the expectation that digital technologies would serve as an accelerator to democratisation – Thailand’s politics remains in a quagmire. The same message was delivered on the next day, 25 August, during the Chiang Mai University speakers for the plenary session, “Institutions, Agency and Democracy in Southeast Asia”, were Asst. Prof. Dr. Panuwat Panduprasert and Asst. Prof. Dr. Chanintorn Pensute from Chiang Mai University and Asst. Prof. Dr. Ladawan Khaikham from Kasetsart University. Moderated by Professor Tanet Charoenmuang from Chiang Mai University, the panel speakers pointed out that after Thailand’s 2023 general elections, significant challenges remain for the kingdom’s democratic transition. The panel presentations provided an insight to these challenges. Dr Khaikham drew attention to the impediments encountered by environmental protection policies in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. She pouted out that Thailand has developed several plans to solve environmental issues using international frameworks, however, the country’s democratic deficit has obstructed it from effectively implementing the plans. Against the backdrop of Thailand’s 2023 election and the victory of the Move Forward Party, Dr Pensute argued that the party’s adoption of digital technologies played a significant role in their remarkable success in acquiring parliamentary seats, genuinely connecting with voters and winning crucial electoral endorsements. Dr Panduprasert examined the military’s role within Thailand’s hybrid regime framework, characterised by growing calls for increased democracy and greater oversight of royal and military powers. The youth-led movement from 2021 posed a significant threat to the preponderance of the military and the monarchy. However, with military-affiliated senators still in the parliament and the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) having overly-broad power, the military is expected to continue dictating Thai politics. Although opposition parties such as Move Forward in Thailand and activists in other Southeast Asian countries have leveraged on digital technologies and social media to make some gains, entrenched regimes are still able to create obstacles to the use of new media for democratic expression, through laws and extra-constitutional practices. This panel was organised as an outcome of the Memorandum of Understanding between Asia Centre and the Faculty of Political Science and Public Administration, Chiang Mai University (CMU), signed on 26 August 2022 at Asia Centre’s 7th International Conference. Earlier that month, Dr. James Gomez spoke at CMU’s panel “ASEAN in the Changing Regional Dynamics”, where Asia Centre also visited the Faculty of Mass Communication and the University Academic Service Center of CMU. In June 2022, Dr. Narut Charoensri moderated the panel on “Trade” at the conference “ASEAN-EU Relations in light of the War in Ukraine”, co-convened by Asia Centre and Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), Southeast & East Asia. In July 2023, leading up to the 8th International Conference, Associate Professor Surachanee Sriyai and Dr. Charoensri from CMU participated as the mentors in The #Reshaping Europe: Hackathon on the ASEAN-EU Relations, also co-convened by Asia Centre and FNF. To view the main conference article, articles on individual title partners who convened panels, as well as the TikTok video and photo album, go to the main conference piece here. The International Conference is Asia Centre’s annual event where it brings together its partners to share the outcomes of their programmes and network for future collaborations. Over the years, the conference has become a platform for a range of actors to meet and discuss key human rights issues. If you would like to become a Conference partner for Asia Centre’s 9th International Conference “Civic Space in Asia: Stories of Resistance and Pushback” or explore other collaboration opportunities, email us at contact@asiacentre.org. For more information on the 9th Conference, click here.
Google: Authoritative Information Important for Electoral Integrity
Google, title partner for Asia Centre’s 8th International Conference “Democracy and Elections in Asia” on 23 to 25 August 2023, through its welcome remarks and panel outlined how the technology company and its partners seek to address some of the negative online influences on election integrity. Vice President of Google’s Government Affairs and Public Policy Markham Erickson in his welcome remarks on 24 August 2023 said the technology company supports electoral integrity by engaging users to disseminate authoritative information about their elections; protecting online electoral information and combating disinformation; and supporting elections campaigns by managing their digital presence, alongside trainings for long-term capacity building. Later that same day, Google convened a panel, “The Role of Online Platforms in Elections”. The speakers were: Dr Yasu Shigeta, Policy Advisor, Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC)/THINK Lobby; Dr Martin Petlach, Assistant Professor, Mendel University Brno, Czech Republic; Clare Amador, Head of Public Policy (Philippines & Thailand), Meta; Kulachada Chaipipat, Cofact Thailand. The overarching message was that civic spaces, including digital spaces, are crucial for any healthy democracy to function, and more so during election periods. Given that these spaces are now being inundated with fake news – youth, as well as CSOs, through their engagement with technology companies, can combat disinformation and ensure that the integrity of electoral processes is maintained. Dr Yasu Shigeta spoke about narrowing civic spaces, a decreasing press freedom ranking, declining voter turnout, a “hereditary” parliamentary system, and very small numbers of female legislators in Japan. However, this is occurring alongside the rise of online engagement, where groups organise petitions, advocacy for changing certain electoral laws, and other forms of civic action. This evolution of civic spaces in Japan is spearheaded by the youth, especially young women. This is in contrast to Southeast Asia, which has varying degrees of digitalisation during election periods, explained Dr. Martin Petlach. There is no clear link between the levels of the online population and degree of democracy in Southeast Asia, and we cannot surmise that the internet is a tool for positive change. Governments in the region have learnt to navigate the online environment to shape public opinion. To continue building such spaces online, there needs to be more fact-checking to combat disinformation, said Kulachada Chaipipat. The 2023 Thailand general elections were a “social media elections” with more active citizens online. Disinformation has also become more sophisticated and generated online through social media, political statements, messaging apps, and online mainstream media. There is cooperation between Cofact Thailand and platforms like Meta, Google, and TikTok to provide training on digital literacy to help promote authoritative and accurate information online. According to Clare Amador, Meta works with academic and law enforcement agencies to determine the nature and extent of disinformation networks. Numerous Asian countries have held or are set to hold elections, such as Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia in 2024. The value of elections in democratic systems is vital, demanding commitment to safeguarding their integrity. Combating misinformation and disinformation is a pressing challenge faced by many, requiring substantial efforts. This underscores the urgency and significance of technology companies such as Google’s role at the Asia Centre’s event. The 2023 conference collaboration builds upon the 2022 conference collaboration where Google co-convened a panel titled “Rights-Friendly Content Regulation in APAC”. The partnership between Asia Centre and Google since 2022 includes a partnership on a Malaysian baseline study, Youth and Disinformation in Malaysia: Strengthening Electoral Integrity, being appointed implementing partner in Malaysia and Thailand for the ASEAN Digital Literacy Programme to train master trainers, and being selected for the 2023 APAC Digital Transformation Program. There are also discussions in the pipeline for future partnerships on other projects. To view the main conference article, articles on individual title partners who convened panels, as well as the TikTok videos and photo album, go to the main conference piece here. The International Conference is Asia Centre’s annual event where it brings together its partners to share the outcomes of their programmes and network for future collaborations. Over the years, the conference has become a platform for a range of actors to meet and discuss key human rights issues. If you would like to become a Conference partner for Asia Centre’s 9th International Conference “Civic Space in Asia: Stories of Resistance and Pushback” or explore other collaboration opportunities, email us at contact@asiacentre.org. For more information on the 9th Conference, click here.
International IDEA: Support Needed for Democratic Actors in the Region
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), a title partner for Asia Centre’s 8th International Conference on “Democracy and Elections in Asia”, hosted two panels and a demonstration session. During the three-day conference, panel speakers convened by International IDEA emphasised the importance of offering support and fostering solidarity with democratic actors in Asia. This importance was underscored during the opening remark on 23 August by Leena Rikkilä Tamang, International IDEA’s Director for Asia and the Pacific. She emphasised that, given the numerous challenges to democracy posed by electoral manipulation, the importance of solidarity and cooperation among civil society actors has become even more critical. International IDEA’s opening panel of the conference titled “Perspectives and Prospects for Future Democratic Elections in Myanmar.” Moderated by Marcus Brand, Head of the Myanmar office, the panel delved into the range of issues surrounding the election to be conducted under the junta regime. The consensus among the panellists was that civil society and democratic actors should withhold legitimacy and institutional support for the forthcoming election until the junta guarantees a free and fair electoral process for the citizens of Myanmar. Three speakers discussed inclusivity issues and democracy in Myanmar. Debbie Stothard, Coordinator/Founder of Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma), pointed out that there is a lack of inclusivity of young people and ethno-religious minorities – who play a huge role in the democratisation efforts – during the transitionary period. These actors are crucial for a future electoral model that is free and fair. Thinzar Shunlei Yi, Deputy Director of the Anti-Sham Election Coordination Committee (ASECC) and Human Rights Advocate added that civil society actors have to be properly included in the process to develop a post-coup regime that is truly democratic and responsive to the needs of the citizens of the country. Igor Blaževič, Head of Prague Civil Society Center, speaking from the vantage point of the international community, emphasised that INGOs should use their positions to discourage giving legitimacy to the election and instead provide needed support to key civil society organisations in the country. On the second day and in the second International IDEA panel “Leaving No Voters Behind: Facilitating The Right to Suffrage of Migrants”, moderated by Senior Programme Manager of International IDEA’s Asia and the Pacific Regional Programme, Adhy Aman, panellists – experts from India, Nepal, and the Philippines – highlighted the inconsistent treatment of migrants’ electoral rights as a major roadblock to enhancing voting accessibility and inclusiveness in Asia. Dr Banasmita Bora, independent researcher, illustrated the situation in India. The country has a significant migrant population facing disenfranchisement, with fewer than a quarter actually using their right to vote due to the financial constraints of having to vote in-country. This issue extends to internal migrants, who constitute a substantial portion of the migrant population and are also significantly disenfranchised in local elections. Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, Commission of Elections, Philippines, noted that civil society should advocate for a holistic approach towards overseas voting, which includes easier voter registration, more opportunities for Filipino nationals to vote from other countries, as well as study the possibility of internet voting. Dr Gopal Siwakoti, INHURED International (Nepal), pointed out that the lack of provisions for out-country voting or online voting in many countries further disenfranchises the migrant population who already lack political and financial leverage. This is particularly the case in migrant-sending countries such as Nepal. Antonio Spinelli, International IDEA, built on the points made by other speakers and concluded that a lack of mechanisms to facilitate absentee voting jeopardises the right to universal suffrage which lays a foundation for the right to self-determination. Overall, the panel showed that those advocating for absentee voting have not been properly supported and have not been given a platform to speak up on the issue. It is therefore important that more focus be given on the topic. The International IDEA, on the third day of the Conference, also showcased its “Electoral Redistricting App (ERA)”. Developed on the backdrop of unfair gerrymandering of electoral districts worldwide, the App makes it easier to create electoral redistricting maps that conform to international principles and best practices. Facilitated by International IDEA’s Senior Programme Manager Adhy Aman, conference participants tried out the App themselves and came up with various ideas of how a better electoral district could look like in their respective countries. Civil society can also use the redistricting app to advocate against gerrymandering with their respective governments. This conference helped strengthen the two organisations’ partnership which was already a year in the making. In the lead-up to this conference, Asia Centre and International IDEA signed an MOU in December 2022 to formalise their partnership. The two organisations also co-convened a closed-door consultation on “Digital Authoritarianism in Southeast Asia” with representatives from diplomatic missions, UN agencies and civil society actors based in Bangkok, Thailand. Earlier in December 2022, Dr. Gomez delivered a presentation on the rise of disinformation and its relation to the distrust in media in an International IDEA-hosted event, “Democracy in Asia and the Pacific 2023 Outlook Forum”, in Bali, Indonesia. In October 2023, the two organisations will co-convene this year’s edition of the “Democracy in Asia & the Pacific 2023 Outlook Forum” in Bangkok, Thailand. To view the main conference article, articles on individual title partners who convened panels, as well as the TikTok videos and photo album, go to the main conference piece here. The International Conference is Asia Centre’s annual event where it brings together its partners to share the outcomes of their programmes and network for future collaborations. Over the years, the conference has become a platform for a range of actors to meet and discuss key human rights issues. If you would like to become a Conference partner for Asia Centre’s 9th International Conference “Civic Space in Asia: Stories of Resistance and Pushback” or explore other collaboration opportunities, email us at contact@asiacentre.org. For more information on the 9th Conference, click here.
IDRC: Strengthen Inclusivity & Research Capacity in Asia
IDRC, as title partner for Asia Centre’s 8th International Conference “Democracy and Elections in Asia” from 23 to 25 August 2023, called for greater inclusivity and the strengthening of research capacity in Asia. IDRC made these calls through the two panels it convened at the three-day conference, in which speakers discussed the key challenges women in Asian countries face to engage in politics and how researching democracies can be improved. These calls were framed by the opening remarks of Caroline Ford, Director for Democratic and Inclusive Governance at IDRC, who said that civic spaces serve as a vital platform for representing communities and marginalised groups but are vulnerable to challenges like misinformation. Thus, safeguarding civic spaces is essential for upholding democratic legitimacy and preventing violence, particularly in post-conflict settings such as Myanmar and Afghanistan. Within this framework, democracy is perceived as a value system grounded in a peaceful, inclusive, and dynamic civic context, closely interconnected with values like inclusion, justice, human rights, equality, and equity. Ms. Ford emphasised IDRC’s support for Asia Centre’s conference on democracy and elections, which aligns with their broader mission to strengthen civic spaces, promote democratic knowledge, and foster collaboration among research communities. On 24 August, in the first of the two panels, titled “Women and Political Participation in Asia,” the plenary session featured three speakers: Saumya Surbhi, Youth Environmental Human Rights Defenders Protection Coordinator at the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub; Viyanga Gunasekera, a PhD candidate at the Australian National University and a researcher at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies in Sri Lanka; and Dr Philippe Doneys, Associate Professor in Gender and Development Studies at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand. Moderated by Kundan Mishra, Senior Program Officer at IDRC, the session was a platform to underscore the intricate challenges impeding women’s engagement in politics across distinct contexts. Viyanga Gunasekera and Dr Philippe Doneys outlined how the convergence of identities becomes a barrier, particularly for women from ethnic minorities, in participating in political spheres within post-conflict societies like Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Building on this, Saumya Surbhi stressed the need for capacity building for young women in the context of climate protests, given the lack of inclusion of this group in traditional decision-making processes. After the input shared by all three speakers and insights provided by the moderator, panel attendees raised questions and articulated their views. The questions covered a range of topics and delved into various key factors that hinder women’s participation in politics and how to overcome them. A key point that was discussed during the interaction between panelists and participants was that Active political participation by women is an enduring concern within the political landscapes of Asia, underscoring the fact that politics continues to be predominantly male-dominated. This dynamic, panelists explained, significantly undermines democratic governance and requires urgent attention. To address the problems undermining the role of democratic governance, speakers highlighted the importance of developing political communication strategies at the grassroots level, conducting more research to understand and compare the challenges faced by women at national and local levels, the necessity of parliamentary quotas, and the establishment of solidarity networks to empower women. Finally, despite the likelihood of persisting challenges, the panelists emphasised the importance of providing appropriate educational tools to enhance awareness and foster more inclusive political spaces, enabling equal participation. On 25 August, the second panel organised by IDRC, titled “Researching Democracies” featured three presenters: Joel Mark Baysa-Barredo, Strengthening Human Rights and Peace Research and Education in Southeast Asia (SHAPE-SEA); Prof Puja Kapai Paryani, Hong Kong University; and Rahul Verma, Centre for Policy Research in India. The panel was moderated by IDRC’s Kundan Mishra. During this session, the speakers delved into the intricacies of democracy research beneficiaries. They distinguished between those who possess the capacity to actively apply research findings to the democratic process and those who merely exhibit a passive interest. This differentiation shed light on the existing power asymmetries within the realm of democracy, underscoring the unequal distribution of influence and resources among participants. These insights underscored the challenges in translating research into actionable democratic practices and highlighted the need for more equitable access to research-driven tools and knowledge for a more inclusive and effective democratic engagement. The speakers also explored the nuanced challenge of adapting international recommendations for democracy enhancement to fit local contexts. They emphasised the importance of ensuring that these recommendations are not only applicable but also sensitive to the unique needs and dynamics of specific regions. Additionally, there was a critical examination of the “foreign interference” narrative, with speakers pointing out its shortcomings in adequately representing minority interests. This perspective sheds light on the complexities of balancing the implementation of global recommendations with the imperative to maintain inclusivity and prioritise the concerns of marginalised groups within the democratic framework, underscoring the need for more context-aware and inclusive approaches to democracy promotion. In this context, the panellists put forward several recommendations aimed at strengthening democratic governance. They stressed the need to translate research into actionable steps to ensure that voices from all social groups are heard and that the political landscape becomes more inclusive. Furthermore, they highlighted the importance of developing specific, context-tailored indigenous frameworks for each country. This approach was seen as crucial for understanding democracy in ways that align with national needs, advocating for a departure from uniform approaches in favour of nuanced, localised perspectives. The speakers also underscored the significance of creating deliberative democratic platforms to engage various segments of society, including women and youth. The panel concluded with a question-and-answer session in which participants sought further clarification on the insights shared by the panellists. IDRC’s participation at Asia Centre’s 8th International Conference is its second showing. In 2022, at the Centre’s 7th International Conference, IDRC convened the panel “Knowledge Systems and Fragility in South and Southeast Asia – The Faraway Future” to discuss the unique challenges faced by knowledge systems and scientific research in South and Southeast Asia, particularly in fragile contexts. Currently, Asia Centre and IDRC are