ASEAN Peoples' Charter Process Launched

A group of more than 160 representatives of civil society organizations from countries in Southeast Asia launched a process of drafting an ASEAN Peoples' Charter that would challenge the state-initiated ASEAN Charter slated to be adopted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this month.

In its Singapore Declaration, the Third ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC-3), in wrapping up its three-day, called on the Heads of States from the region who will be attending their 13th Summit in this city state on 18-19 November to defer action on the draft ASEAN Charter that will be formally submitted to them by a High-Level Task Force comprised of senior diplomats from the member-states.

The conference demanded for full transparency in the process of drafting the ASEAN Charter and genuine people participation at the national and regional levels, consistent with the ideals of a people-oriented ASEAN Community envisioned by the members in official declarations and action programs.

The participants strongly reminded the member-states about their commitment to prevent any serious breach of fundamental ASEAN principles, including unconstitutional change of government and systematic and gross violation of human rights such as massacres.

In their conference statement, civil society organizations outlined the fundamental principles and framework that should be embodied in the ASEAN Peoples' Charter, including specific positions on sectoral and cross-sectional concerns.

The civil society-led process is expected to give birth to an ASEAN Peoples' Charter towards the end of 2008, in time for the 14th ASEAN Summit in Thailand.

Sources and Relevant Links:

SAPA ASEAN Peoples' Charter Process Launched 7 November 2007

SWGA STATEMENT OF THE SINGAPORE CIVIL SOCIETY

ACSC-3 Singapore Declaration

ACSC-3 No Bloody Hand on an ASEAN Charter

SWGA Interim Singapore Working Group gets a new mandate

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