Abstract In an environment where development aid and grant based funding models are changing, social initiatives are struggling to seek out resources to sustain their work. Presently, competition for resources is fierce and donors increasingly only fund select activities-based projects without support for staff and infrastructure costs. Given this funding climate, alternative options open to […]

Asia Centre will hold its 4th Ben Anderson Memorial Roundtable on nationalism in China and its impact on Southeast Asia.  The roundtable will assess trends in democracy and human rights protection in Southeast Asia in light of China’s rise.   Since China and ASEAN entered into a formal dialogue relationship at the ASEAN Summit in […]

Overview Fake News has established itself as an industry that plagues the internet and news media, and has transitioned from a mere limited social nuisance to a broader threat to social harmony and peaceful political transitions. This round table will discuss efforts to combat fake news, disinformation and misinformation by media, government and technology companies […]

On 19 June 2019, Asia Centre will celebrate its 4th anniversary. Dubbed “Nite for Rights” to mark human rights advocacy and activism in the region, the evening will see the Centre host a range of discussion on human rights issues impacting the region as well as strategies for effective engagement. We invite activists, members of […]

The ASEAN Community Leadership & Partners Forum will bring together Leaders from Government, Business, Academia, Think Tanks and Civil Society to discuss the future challenges facing ASEAN in the new global era. The Forum with the theme, “Building Partnerships for a Sustainable and Inclusive ASEAN”” will also bring together next generation leaders of ASEAN, as […]

Abstract Southeast Asia is undergoing rapid transformation with increased competition for influence from extra-regional actors such as China and the United States. In this regard, what has been the impact on Japan and its engagement with ASEAN to date? Meanwhile, the escalating Sino-US competition based on geopolitical interests and values, provides Japan a unique opportunity […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled a rise in hate speech both online and offline. Origins of the virus, its spread and breach of containment measures are cast based on ethnicity, nationality and their immigration status. In this webinar, Asia Centre presents its initial investigations into hate speech in Southeast Asia. During the webinar, invited speakers […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled hate speech against vulnerable communities, who are the most affected. In almost every country indigenous communities, migrant workers, undocumented immigrants, refugees and the urban poor have been disproportionately impacted by the virus. Following a brief presentation of Asia Centre's findings on this topic, invited speakers and participants will deliberate on […]

Hate speech, often disseminated online, has surged following the COVID-19 pandemic. Asia Centre in its inaugural baseline study, Hate Speech in Southeast Asia, explains the background and the issues that lead to discrimination, violence and communal strife in the region. It examines the legal framework, in particular a slew of "harmony" bills aimed at securing […]

Journalism for an Equitable Asia Award Asia and Pacific showed the biggest billionaire wealth and growth in the world last year, now with 906 billionaires owning nearly 3 trillion dollars in wealth. In contrast, 1.2 billion Asians are struggling to make ends meet. Women and girls and other groups without a strong voice suffer the […]

Overview Whereas one can trace India’s relations with Southeast Asia (SEA) through history, their interaction has reached unprecedented levels as India moved from its “Look East” policy of the early 1990s, to “Act East” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. ‘Act East, adopted in 2014, represents a realignment of India’s foreign policy, which seeks to build […]

Since February 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has created an “Infodemic” which has created a challenge for countries trying to tackle issues of disinformation, misinformation and too much information.  A spike in COVID-19  related “fake news” is placing communities in very vulnerable positions resulting in risk to public health. In Thailand one challenge wrought by the […]

As ASEAN and Japan are economically, socially and politically inter-connected, this webinar will examine the shared implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for Japan and Southeast Asia. In particular, it will examine the challenges brought about the COVID-19 pandemic and explore the possible joint solutions to address the issue. Key Questions: What have been the impact […]

Theme: Inequality crisis and the pandemic Asia, just like the rest of the world, is grappling with COVID-19. Despite tremendous economic growth and advances in healthcare, technology, and elsewhere during the preceding decades, we are struggling to overcome the pandemic and the resultant economic and social fallouts. As of now, there’s no end in sight […]

Earlier this year, Asia Centre and Oxfam in Asia, announced the finalists for the Journalism for an Equitable Asia Award Ceremony. Due to the persisting pandemic, we will hold an online awarding event instead. We, at the Asia Centre and Oxfam in Asia, welcome journalists, media scholars and students, those actively working for an equal […]

On 9 December 2020, Asia Centre will release a baseline study that evaluates the state of democracy and human rights in Southeast Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic. "COVID-19 and Democracy in Southeast Asia: Building Resilience, Fighting Authoritarianism" outlines how Southeast Asian governments have taken the pandemic as an opportunity to tighten their grip over their […]

Due to high demand for a COVID-19 vaccine, there have been a number of pre-purchase agreements being made between governments and vaccine manufacturers to secure and prioritise a country's needs before others. This is now commonly known as ‘vaccine nationalism’. As a range of vaccines are being developed and tested in numerous clinical trials globally, […]

Abstract Defending Freedom of Expression: Fake News Laws in East and Southeast Asia published by Asia Centre and the Council of Asia Liberals and Democrats (CALD) examines the existing and recently enacted laws and policies in the region which govern disinformation. The aim of the report is to provide a policy tool of ideas to […]

Law and Lawlessness: Myanmar Coup and Human Rights The February 2021 military coup in Myanmar, which sought to overturn the November 2021 free and fair election, flew in the face of the country’s own Constitutional provisions regarding public emergencies and respect for international human rights standards. The coup in Myanmar clearly defies constitutional commitments and […]

Asia Centre and Oxfam in Asia, welcome journalists, media scholars and students, those actively working for an equal society, and all interested people for the 2020-21 Journalism for an Equitable Asia Award Ceremony on 24 March 2021 at 2.00 PM (Bangkok Time, GMT+7) via Zoom Webinar. Hear from the journalists who wrote the 10 top […]

Around the world academic freedom is increasingly coming under attack. The core value of academic freedom and what it means for society at large is also gaining more attention. For scholars and students, it means not only the freedom to research and teach but freedom of academic exchange. The Academic Freedom Index (2020) lists also […]

Attacks on media freedoms have intensified since the coronavirus (COVID-19) became a global pandemic in late March 2020, as governments seek to fend off criticisms of their mismanagement of the public health emergency. In Southeast Asia, the attack on journalists, media organisations, and the internet is largely led by governments and sitting political regimes in […]

At the 2021 Gwangju Democracy Forum, the panel will highlight how freedom of expression has become important in the struggle to enlarge the democratic space in Southeast Asia. Throughout 2020 and into early 2021, most countries in Southeast Asia have seen a steady decrease in their freedom of expression. Actions taken by governments and political […]

Across Southeast Asia freedoms of expression have been backsliding, Timor-Leste has not escaped this regression. While the Constitution has rights guarantees, national laws however are inconsistent with the Constitution and the international standards to which it subscribes. With gaps that may lead to litigation or censorship. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has proposed a […]

SIGN UP HERE: https://bit.ly/3vYuXYl Abstract: Timor-Leste: Internet Freedoms Under Threat analyses the state of internet freedoms against the background of emerging national legislation pertaining to online content and privacy of data. With the rise in internet and social media usage, the scrutiny of government figures on the digital platforms has resulted in a push for […]

On 20 August 2021, Asia Centre will release a baseline study, "Infodemic" and SDGs: Internet Freedoms in Southeast Asia, that evaluates the progress made towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 9.C (Access and Affordability of Internet) and SDG 16.10 (Fundamental Freedoms and Access to Information) and its impact on internet freedoms. The study […]

Abstract Cambodia’s plan for a “National Internet Gateway” (NIG) in 2021, is the apex of internet censorship legislation. It is a “firewall” that observes internet traffic nationwide. The NIG would provide the government with the ability to effectively monitor and control all domestic information and communications in the nation through a single choke-point. Over the […]