Governance
Governance
Respect for human rights, rule of law, effective participation and accountability of public institutions are some areas that lay the foundation for good governance. Both Asia and Europe have much to benefit from sharing information and exchanging best practices from their respective legal, judicial and political frameworks. The ASEF encourages informal, open and non-confrontational dialogue between government and civil society representatives in this field, through its current programmes on human rights and public diplomacy.
Respect for human rights, rule of law, effective participation and accountability of public institutions are some areas that lay the foundation for good governance. Both Asia and Europe have much to benefit from sharing information and exchanging best practices from their respective legal, judicial and political frameworks. The ASEF encourages informal, open and non-confrontational dialogue between government and civil society representatives in this field, through its current programmes on human rights and public diplomacy.
ASEF Human Rights Programme
The ASEF Human Rights Programme is the central element of ASEF’s work under the theme of Governance. Initiated by the Foreign Ministers of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) at their first meeting in 1997, Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights series remains the only multi-lateral human rights dialogue platform between Asian and European government representatives and civil society members.
14th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights: Human Rights and Business
18-20 October 2014
Hanoi, Viet Nam
With over 125 government and civil society representatives in attendance, the 14th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights: Human Rights and Business addressed the relationship between businesses and human rights protection. The working groups focused on:
- the state duty to protect human rights against violations by businesses
- corporate responsibility and its contribution to human rights implementation
- monitoring, reporting and access to remedies
- multi-stakeholder cooperation
Participants identified 10 key messages as a means of framing policies and practices at the national and regional level. Included in these was the need for all ASEM members to promote and apply the UN Guiding Principles on Human Rights and Business (UNGPs). The meeting also proposed that all ASEM members should develop National Action Plans (NAPs) on business and human rights, which are fully inclusive, participatory and transparent. The key messages were sent to the ASEM governments.
Participants at the 14th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights in Hanoi, Viet Nam
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14th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights: Side-event at the 3rd Annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights
3 December 2014
Geneva, Switzerland
ASEF also shared the outcomes of the 14th Seminar at the side-event Regional Implementation of the Guiding Principles: Lessons from Asia and Europe, held at the 3rd Annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights.
Panel discussion during the 3rd Annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland
ASEF Public Diplomacy Programme
The ASEF Public Diplomacy Training Programme conducts training for young Asian and European diplomats engaged in public diplomacy efforts. Through interactive training courses, the programme aims to build young diplomats’ skills and further establish public diplomacy initiatives between ASEM partners.
Asia-Europe Public Diplomacy Training Initiative
The Asia-Europe Public Diplomacy Training Initiative is a joint cooperation between the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), the DiploFoundation, and the National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) – University of Canterbury.
Development of the training materials was based on the findings of ASEF’s dual perceptions studies, EU through the Eyes of Asia and Asia in the Eyes of Europe. The studies revealed a limited public understanding of Asia in Europe and vice versa. Incorporating data and findings from the studies, the training curricula and toolkits were designed by public diplomacy practitioners and senior diplomats, with the support of Asian and European diplomatic institutions.
The initiative aims to improve relations between Asia and Europe by enhancing public diplomacy efforts among the members of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) process. It provides young diplomats with a practical skills-oriented training.
1st Online Training
12 May–13 July 2014
In 2014, 18 representatives from 12 ASEM members participated in the 1st online training.
1st Face-to-face Training
2–4 July 2014
Geneva, Switzerland
21 young diplomats from 18 ASEM countries attended the 1st face-to-face training.
2nd Online Training
20 October–21 December 2014
31 representatives from 20 ASEM members took part in the 2nd online training.
Participants at the 1st Face-to-face Training in Geneva, Switzerland
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