Impact of the UPR on the Protection of Human Rights in Southeast Asia

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Impact of the UPR on the Protection of Human Rights in Southeast Asia

In its ongoing work on the impact of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Human Rights Council on the protection of human rights in Southeast Asia, Asia Centre convened a focus group to discuss its research findings for a baseline study on this mechanism.  Held on October 6, 2017, the session was facilitated by Asia Centre’s Dr. Robin Ramcharan and it included participants from national, regional and international organisations.   Civil society and other stakeholders noted during the discussions that since the UPR is a dialogue mechanism that States are comfortable with, it might be effectively harnessed as a…

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Freedom of Religion or Belief Threatened in Southeast Asia

Freedom of Religion or Belief Threatened in Southeast Asia

Reports jointly produced by Asia Centre and International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion (IPPFoRB) reveal serious challenges to religious freedom in Southeast Asia.  The 11 country reports were released at IPPFoRB’s conference for ASEAN Parliamentarians  held in Bangkok  on 7th and 8th October 2017.  Dr. Robin Ramcharan of Asia Centre coordinated the research on behalf of IPPFoRB.   Looking at all the ASEAN countries, the research shows that religious freedom appears to be regressing in Southeast Asia.  Serious challenges have arisen in recent years across the region, such as in Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, according to the reports.…

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Asia Centre Human Rights Briefing for Georgia Tech, USA

Asia Centre Human Rights Briefing for Georgia Tech, USA

  Asia Centre held a briefing session on 22 May 2017, in Bangkok, for visitors from the Southeast Asia Study Abroad Program of the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs of Georgia Tech, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Dr. Robin Ramcharan and Dr. James Gomez led the briefing and discussions. Dr. Katja Weber led the group from Georgia Tech.   The session focused on challenges facing human rights protection and democratic transitions in ASEAN, and on contemporary governance challenges that affect human security including the difficulties of providing social protection. Institutional differences between ASEAN and other regional bodies…

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