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Governance

Overview

ASEF's work in Governance

We make concrete contributions to the ASEM Process by promoting informal, open and non-confrontational dialogue between civil society and government representatives on human rights issues and by providing a tailored capacity-building training for diplomats engaged in public diplomacy efforts.

Overview

The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) is an intergovernmental, not-for-profit organisation which brings together the people of Asia and Europe to address common global challenges. It is the only permanent institution of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) political dialogue Process and is publicly funded by voluntary contributions from 53 ASEM Partners.

Governance is one of ASEF’s seven key thematic areas. In this field, we promote informal, open and non-confrontational dialogue between civil society and government representatives, particularly in human rights. We also make concrete and practical contributions to the ASEM process by providing a tailored capacity-building training for early-/mid-career diplomats and government officials engaged in public diplomacy efforts. Our work in human rights and public diplomacy complement ASEM’s political pillar, a key element of the ASEM Process.

We strive to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation among ASEM Partners by equipping our training participants with up-to-date tools and necessary approaches for making their domestic policies better understood abroad and by providing a unique networking opportunity to connect Asian and European diplomats.

Our Work

Human Rights

We organise annual Human Rights seminars, trainings and policy briefings covering issues of importance to Asia and Europe. Through the Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights Series (ASEMHRS), we provide a platform for an exchange of views and practices related to human rights across Asia and Europe. We add value to Asia-Europe relations by transforming the outcomes of our projects into inputs actionable for Asia-Europe policy dialogue. In particular, a set of recommendations are elaborated collectively and sent to the relevant institutions in ASEM Partner countries as informal contributions to the official ASEM dialogue. The recommendations are made available to the public through the ASEMHRS publications and seminar reports. The Seminar recommendations and outcomes are further presented to a wider audience through outreach events and utilised to train government officials and practitioners on human rights topics.

Since 1997, ASEF has co-organised 19 Informal ASEM Human Rights Seminars across Asia and Europe with more than 1,900 participants from 53 ASEM Partners.

Public Diplomacy

The ASEF Public Diplomacy Training (ASEFPDT) combines participatory online learning and face-to-face interactions facilitated by public diplomacy experts and trainers. The modules are designed to keep participants abreast of new developments in the field through peer-to-peer learning, analysing case studies and designing strategic campaigns.

ASEFPDT Alumni are encouraged to apply the practical skills they acquired through the online course and the face-to-face training in their work to increase foreign and domestic publics’ awareness of the ASEM Process and ASEF.

Since its inception in 2013, ASEF has co-organised 7 tutored online courses and 7 face-to-face collaborations, across Asia and Europe, benefitting more than 250 junior diplomats and civil servants from 52 ASEM Partners.

Publications

Publication

Human Rights and Climate Change

Published in 2022
Publication

Human Rights of Older Persons

Published in 2021
Publication

Human Rights Education & Training

Published in 2020
Publication

Persons with Disabilities and Human Rights

Published in 2020
Publication

Human Rights and Children

Published in 2019
Publication

ASEF Public Diplomacy Handbook

Published in 2016
Publication

Human Rights & Trafficking in Persons

Published in 2016
Publication

Human Rights and Businesses

Published in 2015
Publication

Human Rights and the Environment

Published in 2014
Publication

Asia in the Eyes of Europe

Published in 2012
Publication

Human Rights and Gender Equality

Published in 2011
Publication

Good Policing: Instruments, Models and Practices

Published in 2011
Publication

Human Rights in Criminal Justice Systems

Published in 2010
Publication

The EU Through the Eyes of Asia Volume II:

Published in 2009
Publication

The Future of European Studies in Asia

Published in 2008
Publication

The EU Through the Eyes of Asia

Published in 2007
Publication

International Migrations and Human Rights

Published in 2005
Publication

Human Rights and Economic Relations

Published in 2005
Publication

The Third Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights

Published in 2000
Publication

Second Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights

Published in 1999

Stay Connected

Listen to the Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights podcast on Spotify or Soundcloud.

Check out our ASEF Public Diplomacy Webinar Series

Meet The Team

Governance & Sustainable Development

Director

France

Associate Director

Poland

Manager for International Public Health

Japan

Senior Project Manager

Finland

Project Executive

Singapore

Admin Executive

Philippines

Project Executive

Italy

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Join our mailing list

Stay up to date

You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at info@asef.org. We will treat your information with respect. For more information about our privacy practices please visit our website. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp’s privacy practices here.