Consultation on

PROMOTION & PROTECTION OF FREEDOM

OF RELIGION & BELIEF IN ASEAN

Hendrik (German Embassy), Marcel (EU), Saifuddin (GMM), Denison (Proham) & Asrul (GMM)
Planning Meeting held on May 23, 2014 at GMM, KL

Dates:               July 2 (Wednesday evening) & July 3 (Thursday), 2014

The ASEAN region made up of 10 nations with a population of about 585 million is a region with diverse ethnic, cultural and religious communities. ASEAN 2015 target of an integrated community with a charter of human rights seem promising.

Recently in Jakarata, Indonesia from Feb 19 and 20, 2014, there was a Regional Consultation on Promoting the Freedom of Religion or Belief in ASEAN which was organised by the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) and the Indonesian Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)

This consultation adopted a Policy document on Human Rights for the promotion and protection of freedom of religion & belief in ASEA. This is still a document in the drafting process and in due time will be presented to AICHR for this reflection, consideration and adoption.

Therefore it is proposed to host a Consultation to review this document and note our reflections and also discern its suitability to Malaysia.

This Consultation is jointly organised by PROHAM & the Global Movement of Moderators. Its co organisers are SUHAKAM, the Institute of Ethnic Studies, UKM, Bar Council Human Rights Committee, Department for National Unity and Integration, Prime Minister’s Department and the European Union.

Objectives

Review the draft ASEAN Guidelines for Promotion & Protection of Religious Freedom

Ascertain comparability and relevance for the Malaysian context 

Drawing out guidelines and framework from the Malaysian experience and perspectives

Provide input to guideline drafters from Malaysian perspective

Consultation Methodology

In each session a number of speakers are invited to provide their reflections on the theme between 7 to 10 minutes. All participants will have ample opportunities to share their input and reflections on all the themes through a 3 to 5 minutes intervention. Written submissions are most welcomed. We hope to publish the notes of discussions, submissions as a report emerging from the Consultation.

We like all speakers, commentators and participants to study thse two HRWG reports and make comments, observations and assessments 

The Consultation is a closed door event and participation is strictly by invitation. A media release will be issued jointly by Proham & GMM after the event.

The Consultation is jointly moderated by Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (CEO GMM) & Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria (PROHAM & KITA-UKM)

Two reports prepared by HRWG (Indonesia) as documents for the Consultation are:-

Policy Paper 1 –            Promotion & Protection of Freedom of Religion & belief in ASEAN (Baseline study, 2014)

Policy Paper 2-              Research Report Freedom of Religion in Southeast Asia, Legal framework, practices & international concern (2012)

Participation is by invitation only