About

ASEAN Peoples@ASEAN2025

A brief history

Over the past decade, the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People's Forum (ACSC/APF) has consistently brought crucial human rights, governance and development issues faced by ASEAN communities to the forefront to the attention of ASEAN. While its role as a platform for dialogue has been invaluable, it must now enhance its impact and engagement with ASEAN governments and institutions.

January 2025 marks the start of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s ASEAN Chairmanship, leading the region in crafting the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. This framework, replacing the expiring Vision 2025 guidelines will work as a roadmap to guide the ASEAN Community for the next two decades. Further, the High-Level Panel for the ASEAN 2025 review has already begun its work, however, its limited engagement with ASEAN civil society is a missed opportunity and this must be remedied swiftly.

ASEAN must remain steadfast in its commitment to peace, stability, and inclusivity. To support this, CSOs from Malaysia and across ASEAN propose a new multi-centric strategy, moving past a centralised annual event to a continuous and thematic engagement. Under this approach, each lead organisation will have autonomy to determine its model, program, objectives, and fundraising strategy in collaboration with other co-organisers. This approach aims to strengthen connections with ASEAN mechanisms, amplify diverse voices, and ensure sustained advocacy on critical issues.

A powerful partnership built a decade ago during the 2015 Malaysian Chairmanship between the Malaysian government and civil society saw CSOs engaging with heads of state as well as receiving substantial funding support and the active participation of ministers and senior officials at our events. This relationship was appreciated and applauded by many civil society colleagues across ASEAN, and we hope to continue that same partnership for ASEAN 2025.

Guiding Principles of ASEANPeoples@ASEAN2025

HUMAN RIGHTS – adhere to international human rights principles and standards as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights laws;
DEMOCRACY – principle of democratic process to be respected;
GOOD GOVERNANCE – to be participatory, consultative and have genuine engagement and dialogue;
RULE OF LAW – to adhere to the rule of law;
NON-DISCRIMINATION – to respect that everyone is equal irrespective of race, religion, sex, gender, social opinion and other status, etc;
NONRETROGRESSIVE/ PROGRESSIVE/EVOLUTIONARY – not to regress in term of human rights and to be updated with current minimum standards; and
COMMITMENT TO SPREAD AWARENESS ON ASEAN - socializing ASEAN to the constituents.

Engagement Modality of ASEANPeoples@ASEAN2025

'OPENING DOORS' – providing a platform for more people to be involved.
PARTICIPATION – to get as many groups and communities as genuine partners. This would involve getting people from grassroots communities and also groups who are not generally in the front line.
CONSULTATIVE/DIALOGUE – inclusive engagement in the dialogue processes.
COALITION BUILDING - as some of the members are part of different networks, there is an opportunity to build coalitions.
CONSENSUS - in the spirit of democratic decision process we endeavor for consensus building and respect of ideas.
CITIZEN SPACES – spaces for common people to voice their issues.
RESPECT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY - to respect differences of opinions, representation of people/issues, openness to learn and to engage.
NON-VIOLENCE – to rejection promotion of violence or incitement of hatred.

List of the endorsing ASEAN CSOs:

Regional Advocacy for Myanmar
Humanists Malaysia
Malaysian Confederation of the Disabled
DHRRA Malaysia
Advocates for Non-Discrimination and Access to Knowledge (ANAK) Sabah
Pusat KOMAS
HAYAT
Family Frontiers
Martabat Untuk Semua Petaling Jaya
Yayasan Warisan Anak Selangor (YAWAS)
Village Vision Malaysia
Persatuan Sahabat Wanita (PSWS)
Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC)
Asian Roundtable on Social Protection (AROSP)
Partners of Community Organisations (PACOS)
Klima Action Malaysia (KAMY)
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4)
Justice for Sisters
PLUHO
HUSH Collective
Jejaka
PT Foundation
MySDG Academy
Climate Action Network Southeast Asia (CANSEA)
Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM)
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)
SAVE Rivers
Malaysia Stateless Alliance
Stateless.MY
Buku Jalanan Chow Kit
Sisters In Islam
Iman Research
SERATA
Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (Initiate.MY)
SMILE, Myanmar
Gusdurian National Network, Indonesia
South Patani Group, Thailand
Philippines Centre for Islam and Democracy
Beyond Borders
Yayasan Kemanusian Muslim Aid Malaysia (MAM)
Dari Dapur
Human Aid Selangor
Asylum Access Malaysia
Al-Ikhlas Hope Society
Jaringan Rohingya Education Centre (JREC)
Refugee Emergency Fund (REF)
Sedarjat
Alliance of Chin Refugees (ACR)
Kachin Refugee Committee
Mon Refugee Organisation
Myanmar Ethnics Organisation (MEO)
Myanmar Ethnic Women Refugee Organisation (MEWRO)
Rohingya Women Development Network (RWDN)
Rohingya Society Malaysia (RSM)
Coalition of Burma Ethnics Malaysia (COBEM)
Red Clinic
Huiva
Rohingya community representatives
Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN)
Asia Justice and Rights, Indonesia (AJAR)
Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Masyarakat (Indonesia)
NoBox Philippines (Philippines)
Amnesty International
Lawyers for Liberty (LFL)
The Commission for Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan)
KontraS (Indonesia)
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)
Cross Cultural Foundation (Thailand)
Jesuit Refugee Service Malaysia
Coalition of Burma Ethnics Malaysia
North-South Initiative
Foreign Spouses Support Group Malaysia (FSSG)
Statelessness and Dignified Citizenship Coalition Asia Pacific (SDCC-AP)
Nationality For All (NFA)
Humanist Society (Singapore)
Humanist Alliance Philippines International
Filipino Freethinkers
Burmese Atheists
Stateless Malaysian Citizenship Movement (SMCM)
Yayasan Chow Kit (YCK)
Mandiri
Lawyer Kamek
Iskul Sama di Laut Omadal
Borneo Komrad
Voice of the Children (VoC)
Persatuan Promosi Matlamat Pembangunan Lestari
Rasuah Busters
TI Malaysia
IDEAS
UNDI 18
ASEAN Anti Corruption Network (SEA-ACN)
Society of the Orthopaedically Handicapped Malaysia (POCAM)
Society of Blind Malaysia (SBM)
Society of Chinese Disabled Persons Malaysia (SCDPM)
Malaysia Spinal Injuries Association (MASIA)
Malaysia Federation of the Deaf (MFD)
United Voices
National Council for the Blind Malaysia (NCBM)
KL Braille Resources
ASEAN Disability Forum (ADF)
ASEAN General Election Network for Disability Access (AGENDA)
ASEAN University Network Disability Public Policy (AUN-DPPnet)
ASEAN Para Sports Federation
Association of Women with Disabilities Malaysia
Centre for Environment, Technology and Development, Malaysia (CETDEM)
Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia (EPSM)
Global Environment Centre (GEC)
Malaysian Youth Delegation (MYD)
Rimba Watch
Tzu Chi Foundation
Youths United For Earth (YUFE MY)
Fight Inequality Alliance (FIA)
Pay What You Publish (PWYP)
The ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
Birdlife International
Nature Society Singapore
Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS)
Centre for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
Pertubuhan Hak Asasi Orang Asal Sarawak (SCRIPS)
Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA)
Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP)
Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP)
Indigenous Communities Conservation Areas (ICCA) Consortium
Sinar Project, Malaysia
EngageMedia
Foundation for Internet and Civic Culture (Thai Netizen Network)
Myanmar Internet Project, Myanmar
Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM), Cambodia
Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA), Philippines
Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI), Indonesia
Vietnam Rise, Vietnam
ICT Watch, Indonesia
Computer Professionals' Union (CPU), Philippines
Philippine Digital Justice Network (PDJN), Philippines
Federation of Malaysia Consumer Associations (FOMCA)
Consumer Association of Penang (CAP)
Consumer Research and Resource Centre (CRRC)
Education and Research Association for Consumers Malaysia (ERA Consumer)
Malaysian Association of Standards Users (Standards Users)
National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC)
Selangor Consumers Association (SCA)
Consumer Advocacy and Protection Agency (LAPK)
Yogyakarta Consumer Institute (YCI)
Yayasan Lembaga Konsumen Indonesia (YLKI)
Aliansi Lembaga Perlindungan Konsumen Listrik Nasional (Alperklinas)
Cambodian Institute for Research and Rural Development (CIRD)
Sustainable Agriculture & Environment Development Association (SAEDA)
Myanmar Consumers Union (MCU)
Laban Konsyumer, Philippines
SUKI, Philippines
Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE)
Foundation For Consumers, Thailand (FFC)
Thailand Consumers Council (TCC)
East Timor Consumer Protection - TANE Konsumidor
Vietnam Standards and Quality Association (VINASTAQ)
Vietnam Consumer Protection Association (VICOPRO)
Asian Solidarity Economy Council
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM ASIA)
People's Empowerment Foundation
Lao Civil Society Organization Coordination Committee (LCCC), Laos
La Salle Centre
Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM)
Society for the Promotions of SDGs
SDG Solution Providers (Persatuan Rakan Solusi Matlamat Pembangunan Lestari)
Kop SDG (Koperasi Matlamat Pembangunan Lestari Bhd)
ASEC- Asian Solidarity Economy Council
Bina Swadaya, Indonesia
Bayan Family of Foundations, Philippines
SEED Malaysia
Legal Dignity
Pride Borneo
Queer Malaysian India
Sustainable Development Network Malaysia (SUSDEN Malaysia)
Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia (EPSM)
Sabah Youth Movement (SYM)
Nahe Biti Institute (NBI), Timor Leste
Women For Equality, Indonesia
Society for Awareness Fostering and Enlightenment (SAFE)
Pepper Labs
Lisu Youth Congress (LYC)
Migration for Development and Equality (MIDEQ)
Sembada Bersama, Indonesia
Greenpeace Southeast Asia
Building and Woodworkers International (BWI)
Women in Informal Employment: Globalising and Organizing
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Malaysia
Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University, Thailand
Projek SAMA
Sisters United Sarawak
Penang Refugee Network
Bumi Kita
Centre for Orang Asli Concerns
Philippines Centre for Islam and Democracy
MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Philippines
Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao, Philippines
TindakMalaysia Network Services PLT
Perkumpulan untuk Pemilu dan Demokrasi (PERLUDEM), Indonesia
Asia Feminist
Asia Network for Free Elections
Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), Philippines
Serikat Buruh Migran Indonesia
The PATANI, Thailand
Sulong Peace, Philippines
aXXelerate Philippines
Gibbon Conservation Society
Cambodian Institute for Democracy
Building Initiatives in Indigenous Heritage (BIIH)
ASEAN Youth Forum
Plan International Asia and Pacific
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)
NGO Forum on Cambodia (NGOF)
Water Watch Penang
Climate Reality Indonesia
Malaysia CARE
Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (CREST)
Suara Mahasiswa Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia - Friends of the Earth
Cangkang Queer
Baha’i International Community, Indonesia
YKP (Women Health Foundation), Indonesia
IMPECT
KERUAN
Indigenous Peoples for Agriculture Development in Cambodia (IADC)
Geutanyoe Malaysia
Promotion Family Health Association
Association for Rural Mobilisation and Improvement (ARMI), Laos
Association for Development of Women and Legal Education, Thailand
Association of People Living with HIV/Aids, Laos
StreetLawPH, Philippines
End FGC Singapore (EFS)
Non-Binary Southeast Asia (NBSEA)
Myanmar Indigenous Youth Alliance MIYA
Global Survivors Fund
Doctors on Ground (DNG)
Southeast Asia Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Caucus (ASC)
Women for Equality Association, Hosenet South East Asia Women in Informal Employment Globalising & Organising

Page updated

Report abuse