Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Office for Regional Cooperation in Asia

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) was founded in 1925 as the political legacy of Germany´s first democratically elected president, Friedrich Ebert. Since the beginning of the foundation's work in South, Southeast and East Asia, the FES has focused on promoting democracy and strengthening the social dimension of economic development. In the past few years, the FES has also promoted international dialogue within Asia as well as between Asia and Europe; in particular, the issue of crisis prevention has become a key focal point in the work of the foundation.

In its work the foundation co-operates with a number of governmental institutions, trade unions, political parties, social movements, NGOs, media and scientific institutions, as well as international organizations. Click here to read more about our activities in Asia and the Pacific.

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New FES Office for Regional Cooperation in Asia Leaflet

It is our pleasure to announce that the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Office for Regional Cooperation in Asia has a new leaflet. It follows the restructuring of our regional programme, with us having now a new programme focus on promoting social justice in Asia. The history and background of FES as well as logistical information can be found in there as well.

We hope that we will have opportunity this year to hand over a hardcopy to you in person in one of our activities in 2012.

Please click here to have a look at our new leaflet.

 

 

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New fesmedia Asia series Publication: A Buzz in Cyberspace, But No Net-Revolution – The Role of the Internet in Singapore’s 2011 Elections

The May 2011 general election in Singapore witnessed a relaxation of the rules on election campaigning in the Internet, cyberspace has been extensively used for political debate and comment. The ruling government’s result led to the election being labelled by observers as an “Internet election” influenced by media activism by the city state’s tech-savvy population. However, Kai Portmann’s analysis of Singapore’s web argues the case for an election rather shaped by bread-and-butter issues as well as a call for divergent voices in politics and more control of the government.

Although online political expression since the mid-1990s has affected political processes in Singapore and influenced Singapore’s political culture, its impact in electoral terms has so far been limited.

Please click here to view the publication.

 

 

 

 

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 Report from the 8th Asia-Europe Roundtable: The Future of an Asia-Europe Strategic Partnership in Conflict Transformation

At the 8th Asia-Europe Roundtable (23-25 May 2011), experts reviewed current and emerging global trends, relevant to conflict management, to identify those decisions and actions required to enhance regional conflict transformation mechanisms in Asia and Europe and develop different bi-regional strategic partnership possibilities.

Based on the discussions from the 8th Asia Europe Roundtable, ‘The Future of an Asia-Europe Strategic Partnership in Conflict Transformation’ examines those policy decisions that are required now, to ensure sustainable bi-regional co-operation on peace and security in the future. The report explores possible scenarios of future Asia-Europe co-operation with regard to conflict and security issues.

More specifically, this publication:
a) Maps some of the different trajectories of Asia-Europe co-operation that could develop in the coming years with regard to conflict and security issues;
b) Analyses those global issues (such as migration, new technologies, geopolitical shifts, energy co-operation) that will have an impact on regional co-ordination of conflict management activities;
c) Presents multi-sectoral recommendations by which Asia-Europe conflict transformation strategies can be strengthened and better co-ordinated.

This report has been published in partnership with the Asia-Europe Foundation and the Singapore Institute of International Affairs and supported by the Europe-Asia Policy Forum (EUforAsia) and the European Union.

Please click here to view the report.

 

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Lecture and publication launch: The Role of Civil Society Organisations in Community-Building
10 November 2011 - Singapore

At the launch of the Singapore chapter of the publication ‘An ASEAN Community for All: Exploring the Scope for Civil Society Engagement’,  the role of civil society organisations in Singapore and Europe was explored.

Prof Dr Dorothée de Nève (FernUniversitaet Hagen, Germany) offered a comprehensive and practical way of understanding the role of civil society in Europe, through its interactions with the other arenas of society.

Dr Stefanie Elies (Director, FES Office for Regional Cooperation in Asia) brought the focus to Southeast Asia with her introduction of the publication that was launched. With the ASEAN Community expected to come into effect in 2015, the FES aims to fill the knowledge gap of the civil society landscape in this region.
The Singapore chapter in the publication was written by Dr Gillian Koh and Debbie Soon (both of the Institute of Policy Studies, Singapore), who presented their findings and analysis. Dr Koh charted the incremental widening of the space for civil society organisations in Singapore through the administrations of the three prime ministers. In characterising state-society relations in Singapore, Dr Koh noted the tension and constant negotiation between the two sectors since the 1980s, and that civil society organisations are still the ‘junior partner’ in this relationship  (citing the sociologist Chua Beng Huat). 

During the question and answer session the audience explored issues of the representativeness of civil society groups, as well as inter- and intra-regional comparisons of civil society in both Europe and Southeast Asia. The ‘marketisation’ of civil society in Europe was also noted in how more commercial companies are creating and/or funding civil society organisations – a phenomenon that is no doubt a boost for civil society development, but the need for constant growth and expansion of these organisations should not  be left unquestioned.
The event was jointly organised by and hosted by the EU Centre.

 

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Workshop: An ASEAN Community for All: Exploring the Scope for Civil Society Engagement
4 November 2011 - Jakarta, Indonesia

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Office for Regional Cooperation in Asia organised a closed door workshop with 35 representatives from national and regional Civil Society Organisations in ASEAN member states as well from the ASEAN Secretariat.

During this half-day event participants discussed how to utilize the findings of the launched publication “An ASEAN Community for All: Exploring the Scope for Civil Society Engagement” in identifying entry points to bridge existing gaps.

Participants further explored new paths for constructive engagement within the ASEAN community building by taking the findings of the publication into consideration and linking them to existing and developing ASEAN processes. Discussions were guided by a professional facilitator.

 

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Official Launch: An ASEAN Community for All: Exploring the Scope for Civil Society Engagement
4 November 2011 - Jakarta, Indonesia

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Office for Regional Cooperation in Asia, embarked on a mapping exercise of civil society in the ten ASEAN member states and a study on the role of regional civil society organizations (CSOs) which was officially launched in Jakarta, 4 November 2011, stressing the roles, strengths and challenges  of CSOs in the region.

To mark the launch of the mapping, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Office for Regional Cooperation in Asia, presented the latest findings of its study to a wider audience in Jakarta. The launch highlighted the key findings of the individual country chapters as well as the regional study to ASEAN experts, ASEAN government representatives and officials as well as representatives from NGOs, the academe and the media.

Mr. Irmawan Emir Wisnander, Director for ASEAN Functional Cooperation,  Directorate-General of ASEAN Cooperation, Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia welcomed the participants and commended the publication as an important step for the ASEAN Community Building process.

 

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New Publication: An ASEAN Community for All: Exploring the Scope for Civil Society Engagement

With the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Community coming into effect in 2015, the goal of strengthening its ASEAN Socio-cultural Community pillar by increasing the participation of stakeholders and the peoples of ASEAN in building the ASEAN Community is clear. One way to enable wider participation of stakeholders and peoples of ASEAN is the improvement of ASEAN-CSO engagement and interaction processes, aiding in the swift achievement of the ASEAN Community 2015.

In order for such developments to take place, it is important to understand that ASEAN member states are at different stages of civil society involvement, and that greater effort must be made towards information gathering. The FES Office for Regional Cooperation in Asia, has therefore undertaken a mapping exercise of civil society in the 10 ASEAN member states and a study on the role of regional civil society organisations to support the process of greater civil society participation in ASEAN and also to fill a persisting knowledge gap by providing an overview of the civil society landscape in ASEAN.

The mapping exercise identifies the strengths, challenges, gaps and development needs of the CSO sector in ASEAN member countries. It addresses questions on the diversity of CSOs in each member country, their level of organisation and structure as well as the structural processes of consultation. It further provides a framework to present the different CSO sectors for comparison and contrast, looking primarily at two dimensions: Externally, at the legal, political and advocacy environment as well as the thematic areas in which CSOs operate; and internally, at the organisational capacity of CSOs to perform their roles.

Please click here to view the report.

 

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Conference: Regional Tripartite Social Dialogue for Growth, Employment and Sound Industrial Relations in the Services Sectors. Best Practices and the Roles of ASEAN Tripartite Social Partners
31 October-1 November 2011 – Jakarta, Indonesia

For the third time Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) together with the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration (MOMT) of the Republic of Indonesia, the ASEAN Confederation of Employers (ACE) and the ASEAN Services Employees Trade Union Council (ASETUC), comprising of Southeast Asian affiliates from three Global Union Federations (BWI, PSI and UNI Apro) have invited social partners from ASEAN countries to participate in the „Regional Tripartite Social Dialogue for Growth, Employment and Sound Industrial Relations in the Services Sectors: Best Practices and the Roles of ASEAN Tripartite Social Partners” with the support of the ASEAN Secretariat.

After the first meeting, held in Bangkok in October 2009, that focused on the ASEAN Economic Integration and its Impact on Trade Unions and Workers. And the second meeting, held in Hanoi in March 2010, that focused on Sharing Experiences on Regional Social Dialogue from ASEAN and the EU. This Regional Social Dialogue Conference set the focus:
•    To follow up on key strategic priorities of ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Work Programme 2010-2015 and on issues on common interests for the enhancement of regional and national tripartite social dialogue in ASEAN countries,
•    To articulate the roles and responsibilities of tripartite social partners and joint initiatives for building a regional sectoral tripartite social dialogue process,
•    To enhance solidarity and cooperation among social partners towards building a caring and sharing ASEAN community.

Social Partners from seven ASEAN countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) plus representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, representatives from the European Union (EU) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) were discussing two days on roles and responsibilities of the social partners in enhancement of regional tripartite sectoral social dialogue. Furthermore, good practices on social dialogue at the regional level from Europe and good practices on social dialogue at the national level in ASEAN countries have been shared. The conference recommended the greater involvement of employers’ federations and trade union organizations in discussions in ASEAN concerning issues of common interests namely labour migration, skills certification and occupational safety and health plus environment (OSH+E).

Please find the Joint Recommendations of the Conference here.
 

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Revised Edition: Trade Unions, Employers and Labour Ministers Initiated a Sectoral Social Dialogue at ASEAN Level - Brochure about the Work of the ASEAN Services Employees Trade Union Council Including the Executive Summary of the Assessment Study 'ASEAN Economic Integration and its Impact on Workers and Trade Unions’.

Since 2009 the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) supports the ASEAN Services Employees Trade Union Council (ASETUC) in lobbying for an institutionalized Regional Social Dialogue in the Services Sector in ASEAN. The idea of the establishment of a social dialogue at the regional level found supporters from all three social partners in the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. By the year 2015, a single market and production base will have been established among the member states of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Economic integration will definitely bring about the need to also bring about comparative industrial relations in order to make economic development and business needs compatible with human resource requirements, skills development and employment trends. 

This revised edition of the brochure on “Trade Unions, Employers and Labour Ministers Initiated a Sectoral Social Dialogue at ASEAN Level” is looking into the new developments on tripartism. Additionally, the revised edition includes the executive summary of the Assessment study “ASEAN Economic Integration and its Impact on Workers and Trade Unions”. The study gives on overview of the impact in six services sectors (civil aviation, construction, electricity, finance, healthcare and telecommunication).
 

Click here to download the revised edition of the brochure.

 

 

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Workshop: “Gender Responsive Budgeting Initiatives in ASEAN: Key Dimensions and Practical Experiences”
5 October 2011 - Bogor, Indonesia

“Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) should not be considered as an ‘add-on’ to government tasks, it should be integrated into the country budgetary system. At the same time GRB should contribute to the results that women achieve the at grass-root level” said Dra. Sri Danti, MA, Secretary at the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, Indonesia in her closing remarks of the conference “Gender Responsive Budgeting Initiatives in ASEAN: Key Dimensions and Practical Experiences”.
The conference, which was an official side event at the 3rd ACW+3, Preliminary Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Women in Bogor, 4th October 2011, was organised by FES in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection in Indonesia.
The workshop aimed at:
•    exchanging experiences encountered in the implementation of GRB in the Southeast Asian region,
•    exploring lessons learned and achievements of existing initiatives,
•    reflecting on (policy) challenges for government bodies and interested parties,  
•    promoting a professional network to discuss and exchange strategies and policies regarding GRB among government officials and agencies

The workshop was attended by the focal points of the ASEAN Committee on Women Plus Three (China, Japan and Korea) and saw presentations from experts on Gender budgeting from the University of South Australia, UN Women, UN ESCAP and the National Development Planning Agency in Indonesia . Further input was given from Nepal, Indonesia and the Philippines who shared their experiences and challenges in mainstreaming GRB. 

 

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The 9th Inter-Parliamentary Forum on Security Sector Governance - “Justice Reform in Southeast Asian Countries– What Role for Parliament?”
17-18 September 2011 – Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The 9th meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum on Security Sector Governance (IPF-SSG) was held on 17-18 September in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. More then 40 participants from the parliaments, security sector, academia, and civil society from various Southeast Asian countries came together to examine the current state of justice reform in the region.

Mr Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia, and Mrs Herta Däubler-Gmelin, former Minister of Justice of Germany, delivered the keynote speeches.

In an open and engaging manner, the participants identified existing challenges and gaps pertaining to the justice sector in their countries and shared good practices and entry points to deal with those deficiencies.  Particularly, they explored how parliaments can better engage in overseeing the justice reform processes in their own countries. As an important result of the workshop, the participants outlined country-specific action plans on how all stakeholders can contribute in pushing forward national reform efforts.

The Forum was initiated in 2006 by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Office for Regional Cooperation in Asia FES-Singapore, and the Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces.  It is a loose network of members and staff of parliament, security sector officials, civil society representatives and academics from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand as well as representative of the ASEAN Secretariat and international experts. The Forum convenes every year on different topics related to security sector governance.

The workshop report will be uploaded shortly. For more information, please visit our website: www.ipf-ssg-sea.net