The Universal Periodic Review of Southeast Asia: Civil Society Perspectives

TheUniversal Periodic Review of Southeast Asia: Civil Society Perspectives

Editors:James Gomez and Robin Ramcharan

Publisher: SIRD, Asia Centre

ISBN: 9789670960951

Pages: 229pp

Weight: 0.350kg

Price: RM38.00

The researchpresented in this book provides a stakeholder analysis of human rightsprotection at a time when the region appears to be regressing into an insidiousand deep authoritarianism. As political space shrinks in Southeast Asia, thebook provides an insight into how civil society engaged with the UniversalPeriodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council during thefirst (2008-2011) and second (2012-2016) cycles. Through evidence-basedresearch, the authors in this volume identify gaps in human rights reportingand advocacy during the UPR, notably on civil and political issues such as theright to life, freedom of expression, freedom of religion and belief,extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention and claims for greater autonomy. Inshort, The Universal Periodic Review of Southeast Asia: Civil SocietyPerspectives, highlights the need for more engagement on civil and politicalissues during the third cycle of the UPR in 2017-2020. Failing this, the UPRprocess risks being reduced to a platform where civil society only engages onissues that States are willing to cooperate on. If this is the case, SoutheastAsia’s democratic transition will suffer a long term set back.

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James Gomezis a researcher and human rights advocate with over 25 years of internationalexperience working for international NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, publicand private universities, research institutes and think-tanks. He is presentlyRegional Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific with AmnestyInternational. He co-founded Asia Centre and served as it’s firstExecutive-Director.

RobinRamcharan is a Professor of International Relations specializing in humanrights and security issues in Southeast Asia. He lectures at ThammasatUniversity and Webster University in Thailand. He has previously worked ininternational development cooperation at the World Intellectual PropertyOrganization. He is a co-founder of the Asia Centre and presently serves as itsExecutive-Director.