Media Advisory

Attention: Bureau Chiefs, Videographers, Photographers, Broadcast / Print / Online Reporters WHAT : PRESS CONFERENCES of the Solidarity for Asian Peoples Advocacy (SAPA) Workshops in relation to the 21st ASEAN Summit in Cambodia WHEN : November 14, 2012 at 1:00 PM November 15, 2012 at 2:00 PM WHERE : BAITONG RESTAURANT
The Solidarity for Asian Peoples Advocacy (SAPA) is a joint platform for advocacy of regional and national civil society organizations that do joint strategizing and action in engaging the ASEAN. SAPA has engaged the ASEAN on the drafting processes of the ASEAN Charter and the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD). It also works with other CSOs in engaging ASEAN on various thematic issues including civil society participation mechanisms, labour and migration, agriculture and trade, food security, extractive industries, climate change, freedom of information, corporate accountability, border conflicts, indigenous peoples rights, gender and childrens rights. Since 2006, SAPA and its members have endeavored to broaden the involvement of civil society in the various ASEAN processes and are committed to ensure civil society participation to the annual civil society parallel event. This year, under the aegis of the ASEAN Grassroots Peoples Assembly, SAPA is organizing four regional workshops on the following issues: business and human rights, AHRD, peace and trade justice. We request media coverage for the following:

PRESS CONFERENCE 1: DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY IN ASEAN Time and Date: 1:00 pm to 3 pm, November 14, 2012

Venue: BAITONG Restaurant at No. 7, Street 360, BKK1, Phnom Penh Speakers: Community and civil society representatives of affected communities by large development projects in ASEAN Development investments in ASEAN, whether publicly or privately financed, have grown considerably for the past decade with enormous costs. In 2010, the combined nominal GDP of ASEAN members had grown to US$1.8 trillion1 owing to the increased trade and investments and massive financial flow from various sources: sovereign governments, domestic companies, private banks, transnational corporations, multilateral development banks, bilateral lending institutions and other players in the financial market. However, these development projects and investments bring a multitude of risks to human rights, local livelihood and natural resources. This press conference will present the effects of these development projects and investments as well as the recommendations by Southeast civil society organizations for stronger and enforceable rights protection and accountability

PRESS CONFERENCE 2: TOWARDS MAKING ASEAN WORK FOR THE PEOPLES OF THE REGION Time and Date: 2:00 pm to 4 pm, November 15, 2012
Venue: BAITONG Restaurant at No. 7, Street 360, BKK1, Phnom Penh Speakers: Human Rights defenders and civil society leaders in Southeast Asia

At the 21st ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, the leaders of the regional bloc are expected to adopt the draft ASEAN Human Rights Declaration which was widely criticized by human
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rights defenders across the region for not meeting international human rights standards. The speakers in this press conference will talk about the shortcomings of the draft, the pressing human rights concerns in ASEAN, including the issues of cross border conflicts, as well as the impact of the looming economic integration in 2015 to the peoples of ASEAN. For more information please contact Joey Dimaandal, +639088730349, Anelyn de Luna +855 13995805