[Session 1.1] A dialogue on Human Rights Defenders’ Resilience in the context of Asian conflicts

Room: Kristal 1 & 2

Background

 In Asia, there is still political violence, civil unrest, and armed conflict throughout the region. According to the Asia Foundation report, “The State of Conflict and Violence in Asia 2021”, seven Asian countries experienced ongoing armed conflicts. There are three armed conflicts in South Asia, one of which is the extensive internationalised civil war in Afghanistan. Another high-intensity interstate border and subnational military conflict is engaged in between India and Pakistan. Although interstate armed conflicts are uncommon in Southeast Asia, the region’s progress of democracy and human rights has been severely declined by multiple internal military conflicts. While other low-intensity internal hostilities continue to persist in Thailand, the Philippines, and other nations, the Myanmar military coup in 2021 revealed the failings of growing democracy and consistently marked the longest active internal armed conflict in Southeast Asian countries.

The tendency towards more authoritarian rules by enforcing the use of arms has resulted in deteriorating political rights and civil liberties. The conflict patterns have intensified the challenges faced by pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders who seek to resist repressive rule. Human rights defenders who work in conflict settings are not only facing unfair trials, judicial harassment, torture, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings; their family members are also exposed to subjective detention for linking with the defenders.

Despite all the challenges and security risks in the context of Asian conflicts, human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, and defenders working on various issues continue their work to protect and promote democracy and human rights. At the 10^th Asian Regional Human Rights Defenders Forum, there will be an incredible opportunity to hear from human rights defenders who have been affected by conflict in relation to their work and struggle to resist injustice. Four defenders who work in a conflict setting will be invited to participate in a panel discussion to share about their work experience and lessons learned.

Objectives

• To share experience of human rights defenders’ work in conflict-affected settings.
• To obtain and brainstorm new strategies to retain resistance and resist injustice, both locally and cross-regionally.

Panelists

• Horia Mosadiq (SRMO)
• Erfaan Hussein Babak (Awakening)
• Ritz Lee III (Balaod Mindanao)
• Nandar (EQMM)

Format: the session structure

• Panel discussion with four human rights defenders working in conflict-affected settings.

• Sharing their work experiences, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Each panelist is allocated a 10-minute presentation.
• Followed by the Q & A session.

• Small group discussions: the participants will have small group discussions with the panelists.

• Participants will engage in sharing experiences and brainstorming strategies, with a focus on approaching, retaining resistance, and challenging injustice.
• Reporting back from the small group discussions.

• Wrapping up the session.

This post was originally published on FORUM-ASIA.