Isis International-Manila attended the 2nd ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC) held last December 10-12, 2006 in Cebu, Philippines.

Isis presents audio coverage of talks and discussions on pressing issues surrounding the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) – the organisation and the region – such as the charter, ASEAN regionalism, ASEAN commitments, and its vision for the future.

We have also recorded full speeches and discussions during the panel on the role of women in building a responsive regional community, which will highlight and critically examine the struggles and challenges faced by women/feminists in the region in terms of the three ASEAN pillars, namely, economic, socio-cultural, and security.

This three-day conference gathered together various civil society groups to discuss issues confronting the civil society at present in the context of the ASEAN. The conference served as a platform in tackling the implications and dilemmas of regional integration as well as in exploring alternatives to these issues.


Isis International-Manila attended the 2nd ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC) held last December 10-12, 2006 in Cebu, Philippines.

Day 1, Dec 10
Podcast (summary of day 1)

Opening Plenary:"Addressing the Democracy Deficit in Southeast Asia" (full speeches)
1. Khin Omar, Asia Pacific People's Partnership on Burma
2. Walden Bello, Focus on the Global South
3. Pokpong Lawansiri, September 19 Network, Thailand
4. Representative Mario Aguja, Akbayan Citizens' Party, Philippines

Reflection

Day 2, Dec 11
Podcast (summary of day 2)

Workshop: "Barriers to Access to Information, Knowledge and Communication Rights in Southeast Asia" (full speeches)
1. Loraine Gatlabayan, The Access Initiative, Philippines
    Closing the Gap: Access to Information and Participation, Transparency and Accountability
2. Roby Alampay, Southeast Asian Press Alliance
    Media Freedom and Threats to the Public Sphere
3. Al Alegre, Foundation for Media Alternatives, Philippines
    Threats to Communication Rights in the Digital Era
4. Raijeli Nicole, Isis International-Manila
    Gender Issues in Access to Information and Knowledge
5. Sixto Roxas, Maximo T. Kalaw Institute for Sustainable Development
    Synthesis: The Importance of Access to Information, Participation and Justice in Southeast Asia

Workshop: "Women Re-claiming the ASEAN Community as a Democratic Project" (full speeches)
1. Josefa "Gigi" Francisco, International Gender and Trade Network-Asia 
    Transnational feminist politics and the democratic project of regional integration
2. Charm Tong, Shan Women's Network, Burma
3. Raijeli Nicole, Isis International-Manila
    Diversity in cultures and religion
4. Aurora Javate-De Dios, Miriam College Philippines
5. Sophea Chrek, Womyn's Agenda for Change
6. Naty Bernardino, International Gender and Trade Network-Asia
    Care economy at the center of an alternative economic integration

Reflection

Day 3, Dec 12

Podcast (summary of day 3)

Fourth Plenary: "Bridging the Gap between Rhetoric and Reality: ASEAN's Commitments and Reality" (full speeches)

The plenary is a critical assessment of ASEAN pronouncements in terms of solidarity and cooperation, with particular attention to the aspect of inclusion and openness to people participation. How do governments, the ASEAN Secretariat, and civil society assess the performance of the ASEAN (its political leadership, the Secretariat and functional mechanisms)? What are the factors that limit ASEAN's effectiveness and how they can be addressed? Is the ASEAN serious about people empowerment, and how is this being addressed?

1. Meena Raman, Consumer Association of Penang/Third World Network
2. Rafendi Djamin, Human Rights Working Group - Indonesia
3. Neth Dano, Third World Network
Moderator: Augusto Miclat, Initiatives for International Dialogue

Workshop: "The State of Human Rights and the HR Institutions in Southeast Asia" (full speeches)
1. Debbie Stothard, Altsean Burma
2. Becky Lozada, Coalition for the International Criminal Court

Definition

A Podcast is an audio file that can be easily downloaded and accessed by your computers' media player and/or your portable MP3/audio player.

Source:
The Association for Progressive Communications (APC), <http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=2389421>.