February 4, 2015 - February 4, 2015
CSO Event
4 February 2015 (13:00-17:00)
Rattanakosin Room, Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok Thailand
With democracy and rights under pressure throughout Southeast Asia, now is a critical time to reflect upon and reshape human rights and peace research and education. To this end, the need to re-shape the direction of human rights and peace research and education in ASEAN has been taken up by Mahidol University, through its Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRP), and in cooperation with the Swedish Government through its Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), with the ASEAN University Network-Human Rights Education Focal Point (AUN-HRE) and the Southeast Asian Human Rights Studies Network (SEAHRN). The Official Launch of “Strengthening Human Rights and Peace Education in ASEAN/Southeast Asia” Project or SHAPE-SEA will take place on 4 February 2015 (13:00-17:00) at Rattanokosin Room, Sukosol Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
The SHAPE-SEA Programme, supported by the Swedish Government, is the result of series of concrete efforts made by over 40 academic institutions in Southeast Asia who represent members of AUN-HRE and SEAHRN. Many of these institutions have been working towards the establishment of human rights and peace research and teaching in ASEAN/SEA. Too few students graduate with even a basic idea of human rights and/or peace, and only a tiny proportion of lecturers have any knowledge of how human rights and peace function in society today. Given the international commitments to human rights made by ASEAN/SEA countries, and the central role of human rights in governance and peace, many graduates and universities are ill equipped to contribute constructively to promoting and protecting the rights of people and peace building in ASEAN/SEA.
The project of SHAPE-SEA will respond to these problems by increasing the capacity for researchers to work on human rights and peace issues, and to give opportunities to stakeholders in the tertiary education sector to learn more about and to engage with human rights. Over the next four years, SHAPE-SEA will focus on supporting research on innovative and critical projects on human rights and peace, and explore ways in which this knowledge is made accessible to university students throughout ASEAN/SEA. Despite significant challenges, academics and fellow advocates support a common vision to mainstream human rights and peace research and education.
The launch will commence with a formal signing of Agreement between the Swedish Government and Mahidol University, representing the IHRP (who will work as a focal point and convener of SHAPE-SEA). It will then be followed by forum entitled “SHAPE, SHAPING and RESHAPING Human Rights and Peace Education in ASEAN/Southeast Asia”. A variety of speakers from the university sector who are actively involved in the promotion of human rights and peace will share their insights on how universities can shape our understanding of rights and peace-literate region.
For inquiries or to confirm your attendance, please contact Mr. Joel Mark Barredo at [email protected].
Further Contact
For inquiries or to confirm your attendance, please contact Mr. Joel Mark Barredo at [email protected].
