ASEAN CSOs March Against Human Rights Abuses and Inequitable Development

Heads of State are demanded to put social dimension to regional integration   

On the first day of the 31st ASEAN Summit Heads of State, hundreds of representatives of civil society and social movements across Southeast Asia participating in the parallel ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum marched to the People Power Monument today to protest the human rights atrocities, breakdown of the rule of law and unjust and inequitable economic policies in the region. They pushed for transformative changes in the ASEAN and demanded for a social dimension in the ASEAN economic integration.

Srey Sotheavy, Executive Director of the Alliance for Conflict Transformation Organization in Cambodia pointed out the need to review the non-interference policy of the ASEAN, which she says “has served as an excuse for ASEAN governments to remain silent on human rights violations of authoritarian governments.”

“The ASEAN virtually condone these brutal acts as they hide behind the shield of ‘non-interference,” said Jelen Paclarin, Chair of the ACSC/APF Regional Steering Committee.

Paclarin saw the “crucial need to reform ASEAN's decision-making processes” as she noted that “the non-interference policy blocks ASEAN to seriously address issues on the ground."

“ASEAN must respond to and act on the various human rights violations in the region,” said Sunsanee Sutthisunsanee of Pro-Rights Foundation in Thailand. She also stressed that the ASEAN must engage more with the people and civil society.  

“When it comes to decision-making, ASEAN should consult with the people and civil society before adopting a treaty or an instrument because this impacts on the people.” She emphasized the need for the “participation of peoples in the monitoring of the implementation of the ASEAN blueprint.”

Meanwhile, Soe Min Than of Singapore, who is among the organizers and host of next year’s ACSC/APF in Singapore said they “envision a region where all stakeholders can openly engage and work on the issue of human rights and social concerns to allow greater collaboration, better and more sustainable solutions.”

He said the ASEAN member states’ current emphasis on the ASEAN Economic Community “does not include issues which affect marginalized communities and groups to ensure that they are not left behind.” According to him, the ASEAN ‘”should ensure that policies are grounded in regular consultation with all stakeholders to push towards greater economic prosperity.”

Jane Aileen of  Indonesia Legal Aid Foundproation (YLBHI) hopes to see an ASEAN that “embraces everyone without any discrimination,  preserves the culture and local languages, protects  the environment  and empowers people.”

Yasinta Lujina of Timor Leste hopes her country becomes a member of ASEAN. She said she envisions “an ASEAN that respects human rights, human dignity and the contribution of peoples organizations and their indispensable participation.” She further said that the “ASEAN should be a region that is safe for everyone.”

The march rally concludes the four-day ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples Forum that brought together people’s organizations, social movements and NGOs of youth,  children, women, workers, older people, indigenous groups, persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ and other sectors, including academics from the ten (10) ASEAN countries plus East Timor. The delegates substantially discussed issues on human rights and access to justice, corporate greed and power, labor mobility and mixed migration, decent work,transformative social protection and life of dignity for all, peace and human security.

The delegates vowed to forge stronger alliances, continuously engage the ASEAN and push for alternative regionalism and practices.

Award-Winning Agencies Mount Campaign for Love Gala

Creative experts from the advertising industry come together to produce a video campaign for the Love Gala, Asia's premier charity and awards event to be held this Dec. 01, World AIDS Day.

The video campaign, dubbed as Celebrate Love (http://bit.ly/CelebrateLoveFB), is a collaborative project of Black Maria Productions and Dentsu JaymeSyfu. It is a call for love and solidarity, with a fresh take on the old adage: "Love is all you need."

The one-and-a-half-minute video, directed by Black Maria Productions' Michael Manalastas, celebrates love in all shapes and forms, and features dedicated advocates and passionate influencers doing their part in ending HIV and AIDS in the country.

According to the June 2017 HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP) report, there are now an average of 30 new cases of HIV infections per day in the country. Males who have sex with males (MSM) and the youth from ages 15 to 24 are the most vulnerable segments of the population.

Manalastas shared, “I feel proud to have contributed to the Love Gala campaign, as the cause of HIV awareness and education is close to my heart.”







“Shooting the teaser required us to work with both seasoned professionals and enthusiastic but totally inexperienced volunteers. What was great about all this was that everyone, no matter the level of experience, came together to achieve one singular goal,” said Manalastas about filming the advocacy video.

He added, “I'm looking forward to seeing how love is celebrated by everyone within our community and without. I know that the Love Gala will touch many people's lives in the same way it touched mine.”

For her part, Gabbie Santiago, Group Account Director at Dentsu JaymeSyfu said, “Seeing as HIV and AIDS can affect everyone regardless of age, gender, or social class, it was important for us to send a message that is inclusive.”

“We decided to go back to the basics by thinking of the many ways we express love as human beings. Our relationships, our passions, our tastes, our desires, our quirks—they all shape who we are. These are also the kinds of things that inspire us to do more and reach out,” Santiago pointed out.

According to Santiago, it is already a huge milestone that people with various interests and political views, in different fields and social circles, have come together for an important cause like the rise of HIV in the Philippines and inspire the public to sign up for an HIV test or to advocate safe sex practices.

The Faces of Love can be viewed online on the Love Gala’s official Youtube channel (http://bit.ly/CelebrateLoveVid).

The Love Gala organization believes that “as we continue the fight against the HIV pandemic in the Philippines, the video reminds us that love can be our greatest weapon.”

ACSC/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum Criticize ASEAN’s Exclusivist Character, Shrinking Civic Space; Calls for Alternative Regionalism

The ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ ASEAN People’s Forum 2017 pinpointed today ASEAN’s characteristic exclusion of marginalized peoples and underprivileged sectors since the regional organisation’s inception 50 years ago and called for an alternative regionalism that puts utmost premium to peoples’ rights and concerns in development programs and regional integration.

Jelen Paclarin, Chair of the ACSC/APF Regional Steering Committee, deplored the shrinking civic space given to civil society and peoples’ organizations in ASEAN processes and mechanisms.

“Since the start of this year, the ACSC/APF has been persistently seeking dialogues, interactions and engagements with ASEAN leaders in order to bring to their attention key issues faced by the peoples of Southeast Asia and develop alternatives that address social injustices. However, these have virtually fallen on deaf ears as ASEAN Heads of States and Ministers give least priority to our proposals and initiatives. They do not even give time to meet and discuss with us,” she said.

Paclarin explained that among the reasons they organized a Town Hall meeting entitled “Addressing Shrinking Civic Space in Southeast Asia” in the ACSC/APF activities today was precisely to raise the issue of limited CSO participation in the ASEAN. A town hall meeting is designed to be a venue for civil society, parliamentarians and government representatives to learn from one another on key democracy and human rights issues in the region.

“We organized our own gathering expecting that ASEAN leaders would come upon our invitation and fully listen to peoples’ voices and concerns. Unfortunately, ASEAN leaders chose to grant only token representation by sending ASEAN representatives to our meeting, who are not in positions of significant influence although they may be committed in engaging the people.”

The ACSC/APF further said that over the past 50 years, “the ASEAN and its member-states have generally ignored the plight and demands of farmers, fisherfolk, workers, women, indigenous groups, youth and children, persons with disabilities, and LGBTIQ.”

The ASEAN civil society network said these sectors have historically been excluded in the ASEAN’s development targets as governments pursue pro-trade liberalization policies that are damaging to peoples’ livelihoods and jobs and further worsen inequalities.

"While we persist in our engagements with ASEAN, we are also building and developing an alternative Southeast Asian regional integration based on alternative practices on the ground among communities and social movements,” said Dr. Ed Tadem, co-convenor of the ACSC/APF Philippine National Organizing Committee. “We also want to ensure a social dimension to the ASEAN, create a Social ASEAN that fulfils the rights of people and guarantees social protection, decent work and essential services, especially healthcare, for all.”

“This framework challenges the neo-liberal model of development and links local practices in the ASEAN’s economic, political, and socio-cultural dimensions along the principles of cooperation, solidarity, mutual benefit, the commons, and joint development," he added.

Paclarin further pointed out that “under the existing ASEAN integration, many remain vulnerable to greater risks, particularly women migrant workers who are mostly in low-skilled sectors and in the informal economy.”

Paclarin said the ASEAN integration has failed to recognize the social cost of migration, particularly the impact on families and children left behind. She stressed the urgent need for the ASEAN to adopt the instrument on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of All Migrant Workers immediately to protect the workers and their families.

On the second day of the ASCS/APF at the UP Diliman campus, over 1000 delegates gathered to discuss in plenary and workshop groups critical issues concerning the ASEAN, such as pursuing a social dimension in regional integration towards a life of dignity for all, impact of corporate greed and power, human rights and access to justice, and labor mobility and mixed migration.

The conference will continue until November 14 as participating people’s organizations, social movements and NGOs, and academics from the ten (10) ASEAN countries plus East Timor substantially tackle issues and firm up unities in their continued engagements with the ASEAN.