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IIRR Joins Post-ASEAN Summit Briefing
Philippine Delegation Raised ASEAN Response to Climate Change and on Protection of Women and Children
(SILANG, Cavite, Philippines – April 12, 2010) - The International Institute of Rural Reconstruction-Regional Center for Asia, together with other civil society organizations in the Philippines, joined the 16 Post-ASEAN Summit Briefing held at the Global Distance Learning Center of The World Bank in the Asian Institute of Management in Makati, Philippines, on April 9, 2010. Joining the Philippines are other public, media, civil society, private sector, lawmakers, academics and international organizations in other ASEAN member states, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The post-summit briefing involved live interactive video conference connections to these countries from Vietnam Development Information Center in Ha-Noi.
The 16th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN took place on April 8-9, 2010 in Ha Noi, Viet Nam. During the summit, the ASEAN country Leaders discussed (i) the implementation of the ASEAN Charter and Roadmap for ASEAN Community; (ii) ASEAN Connectivity; (iii) Climate Change and other global challenges; and (iv) Regional and international issues.
During the live video conference connecting the 7 ASEAN member states, Dr. Sarin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of ASEAN provided updates on the major discussions and agreements reached just hours after the 16th ASEAN Summit concluded in Ha-Noi, Vietnam.
Dr. Pitsuwan shared that ASEAN is now prepared to face any crisis such as economic, cultural, political and environmental as compared in the 90s. He also shared that ASEAN wanted to grow and catch up with the two emerging economic giants in Asia which is China and India. ASEAN leaders also recognized that Free Trade Agreements among member states must be mutually beneficial and balanced. Dr. Surin stressed that the 16th ASEAN Summit put emphasis on connectivity among member states as not only a matter of strategy but also a necessity.
On climate change, which is one of the major agenda that was discussed in the summit, the Secretary General shared that Southeast Asia play a very important role in the “modulation” of climate impacts on aspects of mitigation and adaptation. However, the Secretary General stressed that the responsibility that the ASEAN member states varies because of its diverse location and capacity. In terms of climate change vulnerabilities, Dr. Surin mentioned that 80% of ASEAN member states lives in areas that is prone to sea level rise.
ASEAN having strengthened its economic and technology base for the past decade however, has a weak capacity in terms of coping and response capacity against calamities natural or man-made.
After the post-summit briefing of Dr. Pitsuwan, member states where given the chance to ask relevant questions to the ASEAN Secretary General.
The Philippine delegation during the 1st round of question and answer asked “if there is an action plan of the ASEAN to respond to the impacts of climate change particularly on food security and building community resilience through disaster risk reduction”. The said question was formulated by IIRR-RCA together with the Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment or SEARICE.
As a response, Dr. Pitsuwan asserted that ASEAN is taking climate change seriously particularly disaster risk reduction. Currently, ASEAN is working for a establishment of a network on Humanitarian Response to address impacts of climate change cutting across sectors. He added that the 16th ASEAN Summit will include Disaster Risk Reduction (Management) as a permanent feature inside ASEAN. He further added that they are currently working to include the utilization of military resources as integral part of response during disaster events.
Related to climate change, Singapore asked the Secretary General on the plan of ASEAN to address urbanization which has a strong link to vulnerabilities of countries to disasters.
Dr. Pitsuwan replied that currently, the ASEAN discussed “green and livable cities” as a strategy to address urbanization. He admits that in matters of years, most of Asia will be highly urbanized wherein if not addressed can further cause massive environmental degradation and low quality of life among communities.
The Philippine delegation also asked on updates regarding the protection of women and children during the ASEAN Summit. The Secretary General shared that the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) was already inaugurated wherein all member states of ASEAN already ratified the convention related to protection of women and children’s rights.
Other questions raised during the briefing includes migration, collaboration of CSOs, domestic elections, ASEAN leadership, land disputes, domestic conflicts, labor and a possible ASEAN-US summit. Philippine delegation includes SEARICE, UNIFEM, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and the shipping and industry sector. The 16th Post –Asian Summit Briefing ended around 530pm, Philippine time.
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