ASEAN Peoples' Forum

1. Intersectionality of rights violations – interconnection of four pillars
Southeast Asia Women’s Caucus on ASEAN reiterates that human rights violations experienced by women and girl-children are often compounded by the intersection of different and multiple layers of discrimination resulting from the intersection of gender with other systems and institutions of power, such as race, class/caste, rural location, ethnicity, immigrant status, sexual orientation and gender identities, citizenship, religion and other factors.  Multiple forms of rights violations against women cut across all pillars.  Thus, ASEAN must adopt a more holistic and cohesive approach in treating its peoples and development and harmonise its policies and practice in all pillars.

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Cha-am, Thailand October 19 – The plenary session on Socio-Cultural issues during the second day of the 2nd ASEAN Peoples' Forum/5th ASEAN Civil Society Conference bore evidence of the broad range of issues and concerns that exist in the region. Representatives from several ASEAN civil society groups, along with an Adviser to the Thai Foreign Ministry, shared their concerns and hopes for forming an ASEAN socio-cultural community.

Cha-am, Thailand October 19 – Because of the absence of all invited ASEAN government representatives, the dialogue on environmental issues at the 2nd ASEAN Peoples Forum/5th ASEAN Civil Society Conference became an examination of environmental problems in Southeast Asia. Panellists who discussed the matter stressed issues of social justice and the human costs of such problems.

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Cha-am, Thailand October 19 - Three activists and a Burmese monk urged ASEAN to do more to address democracy and human rights issues in Burma during a panel discussion on politics and security at the 2nd ASEAN People’s Forum in Cha-am, Thailand.