top of page
This site was designed with the
.com
website builder. Create your website today.Start Now

Programming 

Concept Notes

2nd Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief in South East Asia

 

1 - 2 August 2016

Dili, Timor Leste 

 

DAY 1 – Monday 1 August, 2016 

 

8:00     Registration

 

9:00     Icebreakers and opening remarks

 

10:00   Roundtable on promotion of FoRB

 

11:00   Coffee break

 

11:15   Roundtable on multi-faith or inter-faith collaboration:

 

12:30   Lunch

 

14:00   Workshop on protection and emergency assistance

 

15:30   Coffee break

 

15:45   Workshop on mechanisms for intervention

 

19:00   Dinner at Panorama Restaurant

 

Note: Selected participants will be visiting diplomatic missions in Timor-Leste to discuss with representatives there key issues involving freedom of religion or belief in Southeast Asia.

 

DAY 2 – Tuesday 2 August, 2016

Freedom of Religion or Belief Conference

 

8:00     Registration (continued)

 

8:30     Multi-faith opening ceremony

            Opening remark by former President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos Horta (to be confirmed)

            Group photo

 

9:30     Introduction of participants

            Review of the Conference Declaration on Freedom of Religion of Belief in Southeast Asia, adopted in Bangkok, Thailand in 2015

 

10:00  Opportunities and challenges arising from ASEAN integration on FoRB

  • Overview of regional challenges on promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief in the ASEAN

  • FoRB for all - non-discriminatory realization of FoRB in ASEAN

  • Discussion 

 

11:15   Coffee break

 

11:30   Moving forward on establishing a platform for interfaith dialogue and discussion on freedom of religion or belief

  • Overview of FoRB Roundtables as model for multi-faith collaboration

  • Examples of interfaith discussion and collaboration in ASEAN countries:

    • Representative from the Philippines

    • Representative from Vietnam

  • Discussion 

​​

12:45    Lunch

 

13:45  Group Session: Developing and drafting plans to advance interfaith discussions and collaboration at the national level

  • Group meetings by country

 

15:15  Coffee break

 

15:30  Reporting back on plans at the national level and plenary discussion on next steps

​​

16:30  Conclusions and closing remarks

 

 

At the conclusion of the 2015 Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Southeast Asia (SEA FoRB Conf) held in Bangkok, Thailand on Sep 30 – Oct 1, 2015, participants issued a conference declaration that acknowledges that violations of freedom of religion or belief continue to occur in Southeast Asia, perpetrated by both States and non-state actors. The declaration, however, recognizes that “the prospect of greater economic, social and cultural integration among the States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) provides an important opportunity for acknowledging existing and emerging diversity of religions or beliefs in the region.”

 

Signatories of the declaration expressed their commitment to defend and promote freedom of religion or belief throughout the region by sharing information and mobilizing effective responses; working toward the non-discriminatory realization of freedom of religion or belief; enhancing global and regional cooperation by working across geographical, national, racial, ethnic, political and religious boundaries; advocating for accountability and remedies for affected individuals and communities; and expressing and acting in solidarity with such individuals and communities.[1]

 

The purpose of the 2016 Conference is to develop a plan of actions to implement the stated commitments made at the 2015 SEA FoRB Conference.

 

Participants of the 2016 Conference will jointly develop strategies and plans of action at both country and regional levels to implement this commitment over the following 12 months. In promoting regional solidarity and advocacy, diverse strategies ranging from the use of social media campaigns to joint statements will be explored. Additionally, the creation of a regional coordinating mechanism will be one of the key points to be addressed. Conference participants will explore best practices, including interfaith action and setting up religious freedom roundtables, so that communities can learn from one another. Finally, the outcomes of the Conference will be presented to participants of the ASEAN Civil Society Conference / ASEAN People’s Forum (ACSC/APF) that will take place immediately after the 2016 Conference at the same venue. This will effectively link diverse religious freedom advocates with the largest civil society forum in the region and enhance the visibility of FoRB issues on a regional level.

 

We anticipate 80-100 participants coming from all 11 Southeast Asian countries, including members of civil society and faith-based organizations. Representatives of international organizations/agencies with interest in freedom of religion or belief will also be in attendance.

 

 

The 2016 Conference are co-organized by Boat People SOS (BPSOS), the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Burma Partnership, and Freedom House.

 

We are looking for sponsoring organizations that provide sponsorships to conference participants. 

 

 

[1] Full declaration can be found at http://icj.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/South-East-Asia-Declration-Freedom-of-religion-Advocacy-2016-ENG.pdf

bottom of page