Held in Kuala Lumpur on the 23rd and 24th of September 2024
Acknowledging the pressing need to promote the development and implementation of effective CSO-Parliament mechanisms for engagement across Southeast Asia, C4 Center organised the “Regional Forum on Good Governance Initiatives and Advocacy Strategies” in September 2024. The two day summit brought together a diverse set of representatives from civil society organisations (CSOs) all throughout Southeast Asia. As a whole, this event saw the participation of individuals from Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei, Timor-Leste, and Myanmar. The coalescence of these individuals served to create a platform for information exchange and act as a prelude to potential cross-border alliances between the various CSOs. A number of esteemed speakers were invited to share and contextualise advocacy efforts within various national contexts:
• Political Systems in ASEAN by Prof. Wong Chin Huat, Political Scientist, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Asia Headquarters, Sunway University
• Malaysian CSO Experience in Advocacy with Parliamentarians by Cynthia Gabriel, Founding Director, C4 Center
• Using the APPGM Platform for Advocacy by YB Tuan Syed Ibrahim bin Syed Noh, Chairman of All Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia – Integrity, Governance and Anti-Corruption
• Advocacy Experiences in the US by Congressman Mike Bishop
• Advocacy Experiences in Indonesia by Dr. Rifqi Sjarief Assegaf, Program Director for Justice, Anti-Corruption and Human Rights, Kemitraan
• Advocacy Experiences in Thailand by Asst. Prof. Dr. Torplus Yomnak, Director of the Knowledge Hub for Regional Anti-Corruption and Good Governance Collaboration (KRAC)
• Using Media as an Advocacy Tool in Advancing Reform by Carmela Fonbuena, Executive Director, The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ)
The sharing of these multifaceted advocacy experiences provided participants with a number of strategies that they could incorporate in their own works, and also shined a light upon the many nuances present within the advocacy spaces of the countries spoken on. Yet, as significant as these pointed presentations were, the beating heart of this event came in the form of a series of carefully crafted workshops. Through these workshops, a spirit of collaboration and understanding was engendered among the many representatives, as it provided them all with an opportunity to speak on the intricate details that line their individual national contexts. The workshops spanned four sessions, which addressed the challenges faced by these CSOs, shed light on their notable successes, illustrated tools to develop advocacy strategies, and brought together methods of future collaboration.
The discussions and interactions in these sessions facilitated a rich exchange of ideas and experiences that fostered mutual understanding on the legislative and organisational constraints of each country. These sessions, though, built up more than just organisational relations between regional CSOs, with a sense of fraternity and kinship also having been formed over the two days. This culminated in the “Solidarity Night” held at Kuala Lumpur Tower – the world’s seventh tallest tower. During this soirée, participants were given the freedom of KL Tower’s observation and sky decks – allowing them to soak in the wonders of Kuala Lumpur’s sprawling nighttime skyline from a unique vantage point. The highlight was the evening dinner which gave participants a chance to truly enjoy each other’s company. On top of all this, the dinner provided guests with a glimpse of Malaysia’s multicultural heritage, with awestriking cultural dance performances bringing a touch of spectacle to the night.
Overall, the rich successes of this forum were founded on the bonds forged by participants of diverse backgrounds, paving the way to future regional collaboration. From the quality of the speakers, to the learnings in the workshops, the event as a whole served as a true platform for the creation of strategies in pursuing advocacy both locally and regionally. Though the forum may have ended, its impacts have left indelible impressions on each participant – reinvigorating their energies in advocating for change and good governance in the region.
