Sign in Subscribe

2023 Taiwan and Southeast Asia Civil Society Week／2023 台灣與東南亞公民社會週 (CN/EN)

About the Taiwan and Southeast Asia Civil Society Week

"Taiwan and Southeast Asia Civil Society Week" is a platform organized by ACFA to connect civil society organisations and activists among Taiwan and Southeast Asia. The 2023 Taiwan and Southeast Asia Civil Society Week is an initial stage for CSOs and activists in the region who are facing threats derived from the trend of the closing civic space to come together to explore Taiwan's condition on providing support or any further and potential collaboration.

About the report launch forum

In the 2023 Taiwan and Southeast Asia Civil Society Week, ACFA has launched a report "Exploring Taiwan's Role Amid the Crisis of Closing Civic Space in Southeast Asia" which is the results of the research project "Scrutinizing the Accessibility of Taiwan for CSOs From Southeast Asia".

The central question of this research is: whether Taiwan, as a democracy adjacent to the ASEAN region, has the capacity to provide an inclusive 'alternative civic space' to accommodate the surge of asylum-seeking CSOs from Southeast Asia, so as to alleviate the challenge of closing civic space witnessed in Southeast Asia.

The study does not attempt to make broad generalizations about the situation of CSOs in Southeast Asia solely based on the experiences of seven specific organizations. Instead, the study is aimed at comprehending the strategies and thought processes these organizations employ to deal with their unique situations. This understanding is crucial in identifying the key factors that influence the decisions of Southeast Asian CSOs to relocate.

By assuming the responsibility to protect human rights defenders and allowing them to maintain momentum in practicing human rights and pursue justice, civil society in Taiwan will be able to further support the development of democracy and human rights in the region.

Read the Foreword of the report: https://www.acfa.tw/report-is-out/

Forum program

  • Topic: Exploring Taiwan's Role Amid the Crisis of Closing Civic Space in Southeast Asia
  • Date: August 22, 2023
  • Location: Taipei, Taiwan

Report launch session

Exploring Taiwan's Role Amid the Crisis of Closing Civic Space in Southeast Asia

Speakers/Presenters

  • Leah Lin, Executive Director and Founder, Asia Citizen Future Association
  • Doris Yang, Researcher, Asia Citizen Future Association

Commentators

  • Michael Caster, Asia Digital Program Manager, ARTICLE 19
  • Khoo, YH, Associate Professor and Department Head of International and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya
  • Wong, YK, Case Management and Campaign Coordinator, SUARAM
  • Chiu, Eeling, Executive Director, Amnesty International Taiwan

Panel 1

Enhance the Accessibility to Taiwan's Civic Space: Foreigners' Rights to Association in Taiwan

Moderator:

  • Leah Lin, Executive Director and Founder, Asia Citizen Future Association

Speakers:

  • Yi-Hsiang Shih, Secretary General, Taiwan Association for Human Rights
  • Trinh Huu Long, Co-founder and Co-director, Legal Initiatives for Vietnam
  • Karl Hsu, President of the director board, Covenants watch
  • Aleksandra Bielakowska, Taipei Advocacy officer, Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Panel 2

Threats to Freedom of Association in Southeast Asia: Case in Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Myanmar and the Philippines

Moderator: Chiu Eeling, Executive Director, Amnesty International Taiwan

Special Guest: Hung Sun-Han, Legislator of Taiwan

Speakers:

  • Wong Yen Ke, Case Management and Campaign Coordinator, SUARAM
  • Chhan Sokunthea, Acting Director, Cambodian Center for Independent Media
  • Catherine Lopez, Program Coordinator, Research and Policy Development
  • Khin Ohmar, Founder and Chairperson, Advisory Board, Progressive Voice Myanmar
  • Ryan Silverio, Executive Director, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus

Rise Talk

Regional NGO Hub in Peril: Thailand in Democracy's Crossroad

Moderator:
Thompson Chau, President, Taiwan Foreign Correspondents' Club

Speakers:

  • Kunthika Nutcharut, Attorney at Law, Krisadang Law and Accounting Office
  • Anon Chawalawan, Project Manager, iLaw

Roundtable/workshop

Initial Exploration of Taiwan's Role in Confronting the Trend of Closing Civic Space in the Region

Moderator: Ryan Silverio, Executive Director, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus

Speakers:

  • Roy Ngerng, Human Rights Defender
  • Jing-Jie Chen, Campaigner, Safeguard Defender
  • Wang Si, Deputy Secretary-General, Taiwan Association for Human Rights

Read more here:

馬來西亞青年人權捍衛者黃彥鉻談馬來西亞結社自由
「探索台灣在東南亞公民空間緊縮下的角色」研究發布暨論壇 本論壇為亞洲公民未來協會(ACFA)【2023台灣與東南亞社會議題週（ACFA 2023 Taiwan and Southeast Asia Civil Society Week)】主要活動。 邀集十位來自七個東南亞國家的NGO、獨立媒體、律師、學者赴台。近七十位參與者加入此論壇共同討論東南亞區域公民空間緊縮的現況與挑戰，參與者包含國際組織、東南亞區域公民社會組織、台灣公民社會組織、獨立媒體、律師、學者、立法委員等。 論壇聚焦在：（一）重申結社權的重要性及討論保護結社權的策略；（二）了解台灣公民空間和法律框架對於保護外…
亞洲公民未來協會 ACFA亞洲公民未來協會 Asia Citizen Future Association
An introduction of the right to the freedom of association in Malaysia by youth human rights defender Wong
Note taking: Doris Yang / Editing: Leah Lin ACFA (Asia Citizen Future Association) is honor to invite Wong Yan Ke, the program and campaign coordinator at Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), to talk about the current situation of freedom of association and press freedom in Malaysia for us to understand…
亞洲公民未來協會 ACFA亞洲公民未來協會 Asia Citizen Future Association
【專訪分享】關鍵評論網東南亞：專訪東協多元性別小組執行長-東南亞LGBT+團體的困境與挑戰
本文作者：歐穎慈。 本文專訪為受訪者赴台參與亞洲公民未來協會2023台灣與東南亞社會議題週（ACFA 2023 Taiwan and Southeast Asia Civil Society Week）期間，接受關鍵評論網專訪。敬請至關鍵評論網閱讀全文。 「2023年7月17日，原定在印尼雅加達所舉辦的「東協酷兒倡導週（ASEAN Queer Advocacy Week）」因主辦單位多次收到安全威脅後，在活動舉辦前一周緊急取消。」 「『不管是在Instagram或是推特（現為Ｘ），我們收到很多威脅訊息，大多都是來自印尼的帳號，但也有來自馬來西亞、中國跟俄羅斯。』東協酷兒倡導週的主辦單位之…
亞洲公民未來協會 ACFA亞洲公民未來協會 Asia Citizen Future Association
【專訪分享】關鍵評論網東南亞：專訪獨立媒體《Kamnotra》代表-洪馬內接任總理，柬埔寨新聞環境會更開放嗎？
本文作者：杜晉軒 本文專訪為受訪者赴台參與亞洲公民未來協會2023台灣與東南亞社會議題週（ACFA 2023 Taiwan and Southeast Asia Civil Society Week）期間，接受關鍵評論網專訪。敬請至關鍵評論網閱讀全文。 「柬埔寨媒體《民主之聲》（VOD）曾是該國碩果僅存的獨立媒體，今年2月因一則報導時任總理洪森的長子洪馬內的新聞報導，讓VOD不幸被洪森當局撤銷營業許可證。隨著洪馬內在8月22日就職成為新任柬埔寨總理，那究竟目前柬埔寨的新聞自由環境為何呢？」 「《關鍵評論網》採訪了柬埔寨獨立媒體《Kamnotr》的媒體總監素坤替（Chhan S…
亞洲公民未來協會 ACFA亞洲公民未來協會 Asia Citizen Future Association
「一個人便能構成非法集會」淺談新加坡集會結社的困境 “Even a single person can be considered an assembly in Singapore” A brief introduction of the rights to assembly and association in Singapore（CN/EN）
「一個人便能構成非法集會」淺談新加坡集會結社的困境 “Even a single person can be considered an assembly in Singapore” A brief introduction of the rights to assembly and association in Singapore（CN/EN）
亞洲公民未來協會 ACFA亞洲公民未來協會 Asia Citizen Future Association
「柬埔寨總理傳位其子，新聞自由仍不樂觀」淺談柬埔寨集會與新聞自由
「探索台灣在東南亞公民空間緊縮下的角色」研究發布暨論壇 本論壇為亞洲公民未來協會(ACFA)【2023台灣與東南亞社會議題週（ACFA 2023 Taiwan and Southeast Asia Civil Society Week)】主要活動。 邀集十位來自七個東南亞國家的NGO、獨立媒體、律師、學者赴台。近七十位參與者加入此論壇共同討論東南亞區域公民空間緊縮的現況與挑戰，參與者包含國際組織、東南亞區域公民社會組織、台灣公民社會組織、獨立媒體、律師、學者、立法委員等。 論壇聚焦在：（一）重申結社權的重要性及討論保護結社權的策略；（二）了解台灣公民空間和法律框架對於保護外國人結社權的挑…
亞洲公民未來協會 ACFA亞洲公民未來協會 Asia Citizen Future Association
“Repression on Media Freedom Continues as New Government Formed” A brief introduction of press freedom and freedom of association in Cambodia
Note taking: Doris Yang / Editing: Leah Lin ACFA (Asia Citizen Future Association) is honor to invite Chhan Sokunthea, the media director of the Cambodian independent media “Kamnotra”, to talk about the current situation of freedom of association and press freedom in Cambodia for us to understand t…
亞洲公民未來協會 ACFA亞洲公民未來協會 Asia Citizen Future Association
“Harassment against NGOs in Thailand is still happening” a brief introduction of the right to association in Thailand
Note taking: Doris Yang / Editing: Leah Lin ACFA (Asia Citizen Future Association) is honor to invite Attorney Kunthika Nutcharut and Anon Chawalawan--Project Manager of iLaw, to talk about the current situation of freedom of association in Thailand for us to understand the current situation and tr…
亞洲公民未來協會 ACFA亞洲公民未來協會 Asia Citizen Future Association
泰國作為東南亞公民社會重要據點竟也打壓NGO?淺談泰國結社自由狀況
「探索台灣在東南亞公民空間緊縮下的角色」研究發布暨論壇 本論壇為亞洲公民未來協會(ACFA)【2023台灣與東南亞社會議題週（ACFA 2023 Taiwan and Southeast Asia Civil Society Week)】主要活動。 邀集十位來自七個東南亞國家的NGO、獨立媒體、律師、學者赴台。近七十位參與者加入此論壇共同討論東南亞區域公民空間緊縮的現況與挑戰，參與者包含國際組織、東南亞區域公民社會組織、台灣公民社會組織、獨立媒體、律師、學者、立法委員等。 論壇聚焦在：（一）重申結社權的重要性及討論保護結社權的策略；（二）了解台灣公民空間和法律框架對於保護外國人結社權的挑…
亞洲公民未來協會 ACFA亞洲公民未來協會 Asia Citizen Future Association

2023 台灣與東南亞公民社會週

【2023台灣與東南亞公民社會週】是亞洲公民未來協會的年度活動，作為一個平台，我們連結台灣與東南亞公民社會組織和工作者。邀請到十位來自七個東南亞公民社會組織與決策者參與，包含NGO、律師、獨立媒體、學者等，共同討論區域公民空間緊縮對公民社會與組織帶來的挑戰以及彼此的因應經驗。

在今年的2023台灣與東南亞公民社會週當中，亞洲公民未來協會以我們的研究「評析台灣對東南亞公民社會組織之可近性研究」，與研究結果《探索台灣在東南亞區域緊縮下的角色》報告的內容及發現，和東南亞參與者及台灣公民社會組織共同討論台灣作為「替代性公民空間」的潛力、優勢與當前的缺陷與短處。

本研究的核心問題是：台灣作為鄰近東協區域的民主國家，是否有能力提供具備包容性的替代性公民空間(alternative civic space)，接待來自東南亞正激增的尋求庇護 CSOs，以減輕東南亞公民空間緊縮危機對組織與行動者造成的直接負面影響。藉由承擔保護人權捍衛者的責任，維護他們行使人權與追求正義的動能，進一步支持區域內的民主與人權發展。透過訪談在台設立之國際/外國公民社會組織，本研究分析外籍人士在台設立社會組織、聘雇、納稅及社會保險之現況與挑戰，以討論台灣公民空間對東南亞 CSOs 的可近性。

另一方面，基於全球範圍內現存之東南亞公民空間緊縮研究成果，本研究深度訪談來自七個東南亞國家的組織及其決策者，著重於理解他們在高壓環境下持續從事組織活動的相應策略與需求。本研究並非試圖以七 個組織的個別經驗普遍化東南亞 CSOs 在公民空間緊縮下的處境;相反，透過理解面臨危殆的組織應對各自處境所採行的多元策略及思維過程，可以使我們理解對東南亞 CSOs 遷移決策具備影響性的關鍵因素，使讀者理解東南亞 CSOs 對台灣作為替代性公民空間抱持的觀點與評價，更可能促使台灣更務實的理解自身條件與思索台灣在區域中的角色。這一章節對台灣公民社會來說，值得一讀。

先讀報告前言：https://www.acfa.tw/report_cn/
活動資訊 Information

See you next year!