We are glad to invite you to the upcoming ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (APF), scheduled to take place December 12 through 14 2008, at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. This unique platform of direct People-to-People engagement will take place prior to the 14th ASEAN Summit in Chang Mai, and will provide civil society organizations and social movements from across the region an opportunity to gather to discuss key issues confronting the region, articulate common positions, and develop joint action among civil society actors in Southeast Asia.

Objective

The ASEAN Peoples’ Forum seeks to strengthen civil society across the ASEAN region, through direct People-to-People engagement. This regional forum establishes a two-way process, in which domestic issues are escalated to higher regional forums and the local impacts of regional issues are highlighted for community level groups. The ASEAN Peoples’ Forum encourages regional civil society to engage on critical ASEAN issues both among itself and with ASEAN institutions
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Design

APF participants will gather to articulate common positions on key issues confronting the region, and develop joint action among civil society actors in Southeast Asia. Participants will have an opportunity to take part in various plenary sessions and workshops addressing a wide spectrum of urgent contemporary issues for all ASEAN peoples. Joint activities will tackle core issues, both descriptive, providing information and insights, and normative, providing analysis and alternatives. Workshops fall into four broad categories:  * full list attached below.

  1. Peace and Human Security dimension of ASEAN regionalism.
  2. Social and Cultural dimensions of regionalism – focus on environmental and sustainable development, special interest groups, media, women’s rights, and youth,
  3. The Socio-Economic Dimension of regionalism – focus on globalization, labor, trade and global financial crises.
  4. Avenues of action and participation for ASEAN civil society – a People’s ASEAN: civil society, social movements, active citizenship, and democracy.

The APF was initiated by Thai and ASEAN civil society groups, is coordinated by the APF program committees, and is funded through financial support of both regional civil society groups and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand, through the Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS) at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

Output

The ASEAN Peoples’ Forum will conclude with the 4th ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC IV) in the morning of 14 December 2008. The ACSC IV will present a joint statement by ASEAN civil society the ASEAN Leaders during a special interface session in the evening of December 15 2008. This interface provides ASEAN civil society with a singular opportunity to directly engage on vital issues with ASEAN’s most senior political leadership.

The ASEAN Peoples’ Forum will strengthen links both horizontally across ASEAN civil society and vertically, providing a crucial interface ASEAN’s political leadership. Workshops and plenary session will highlight key regional issues, provide a forum for direct engagement among ASEAN peoples, and facilitate in the formulation of solutions to address ASEAN regional challenges.

The combined elements of the APF and the ACSC IV play a crucial roll in establishing the vitality and strength of ASEAN society as it marches into the 21st century, establishing its rightful place among the nations of the world.

Participation & Registration

Participation in the APF is open to all participants, regardless of professional background or nationality. All information regarding the APF is available online, and we strongly encourage all participants to register early at:
http://www.apf2008.org

Many of the APF events, panel discussions, and workshops will be made available online via the World Wide Web both in real time streaming technology, and afterwards for download. We encourage all those who can not make in person to the conference to check our web-site for updates.

Attached below please find the Agenda and Workshop list for the upcoming APF.

For more information, please contact Institute of Security & International Studies, by telephone at

+ (66) 2 218 7432-3 or by email at [email protected]