<p>In conjunction the 36th ASEAN Summit, held virtually on 26 June, 45 civil society organizations issued a <a href="https://www.forum-asia.org/?p=32059#:~:text=26%20June%202020%2012%3A07,months%2C%20rights%20groups%20said%20today.">joint statement</a> condemning the increase in human rights violations by ASEAN member states during the Covid-19 pandemic, and also criticising the exclusion of civil society organisations from participating in the summit.</p>

<p>Amnesty International released an open letter to the governments of&nbsp;Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam, calling for them to&nbsp;meet their responsibilities according to international standards and regional commitments and take immediate actions to protect the Rohingya people whose lives are at risk at sea.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ICJ today called on States in Southeast Asia to respect and protect human rights online and offline, in accordance with their obligations under international law, as they take steps to stop the spread of COVID-19. It urged States to ensure that avoiding adverse impacts on the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, opinion, information and privacy are front and center when implementing measures to counter misinformation about the virus.</p>

<p>Regional lawmakers today urged Myanmar&#39;s military, the Tatmadaw, and the Arakan Army (AA) to protect civilians from ongoing fighting in Rakhine and Chin states, end all violations of human rights and humanitarian law, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Cartoon by Stephff as leaders attended&nbsp;ASEAN Summit from 31 October to 4 November 2019.</p>

<p>ASEAN countries and China have taken a step closer to the promised Code of Conduct governing the South China Sea. However, it has to be noted that as always Beijing has not given up its claims while the diplomats are taking their sweet time.</p>

<div>The inter-Korean summit is set to transform the international political landscape of East Asia. For the first time, South and North Koreas have agreed to overcome long years of mutual antagonism. They expressed their willingness to tackle difficult issues in their relationship that had over several decades prevented peace on the Korean peninsula.</div> <div> </div> <div>Among those difficult issues are denuclearization of the region and even a possible reunification in the future. The two countries were separated by the Korean War, which terminated in 1953. </div>

<div>JAKARTA, 11 April 2018 — The arrival in Malaysia and Indonesia of boats carrying Rohingya refugees from Myanmar is a worrying potential signal of further regional repercussions of ongoing persecution in Rakhine State, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) warned today. In light of the latest developments, the collective of regional lawmakers reiterated its call for ASEAN leaders to urgently address the root causes of the crisis, which have already driven hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee Myanmar.</div> <div> </div> <div>“These boats are a warning sign. </div>

<p>ASEAN lawmakers urged regional governments today to do more to protect migrant workers and refugees, arguing that all members of the ASEAN community are entitled to basic rights and deserve to have their dignity and humanity respected.&nbsp;</p>

<p>More and more people travel across international borders for the purpose of receiving medical care. Medical tourism, as this growing phenomenon is commonly called, features prominently in Southeast Asia, with Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore among the top world destinations thanks to relatively lower costs of care, cutting-edge equipment and expertise, and visitors’ friendly attitude.&nbsp; At the receiving end of services, Indonesia is one of the major sending countries for outbound medical tourism as many Indonesians travel to Malaysia or Singapore in search of better care.</p>

<p>Amidst the euphoria of the 30th&nbsp;Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila, ASEAN SOGIE Caucus reiterates its call to various governments to uphold their human rights obligations to promote and protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) people.</p>