PRESS RELEASE “Transforming ASEAN into a People-Centered Community” Cambodian Civil Society Reaffirms its Commitment to Organize of ACSC/APF 2012 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

PRESS RELEASE

 “Transforming ASEAN into a People-Centered Community”

Cambodian Civil Society Reaffirms its Commitment to Organize of ACSC/APF 2012

in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Phnom Penh, 21 March 2012

As Cambodia takes the chairship of ASEAN in 2012, civil society in the country reaffirms its commitment to organize an ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC)/ ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (APF) on March 29-31, 2012 in Phnom Penh ahead of the 20th ASEAN Summit that will take place on April 3-4, 2012. The National Organizing Committee of ACSC/APF has followed the legal procedure of Cambodia so that the event will go ahead as planned.

Traditionally, the ACSC/APF is a platform for democratic and constructive debates on ideas, formulation of proposals for ASEAN, exchange of experiences among civil society and peoples’ movements, expanding networks across issues in the region, and enacting joint actions, especially on community building process. This year 2012, reflecting the major concerns of the ASEAN people towards the Association, ACSC/APF 2012 chooses the theme “Transforming ASEAN into a People-Centered Community”.

There will be more than 20 parallel workshops that cover different issues currently confronting the ASEAN region. The ideas generated will be formed into recommendations for the ASEAN leaders to address and take into account in their discussions. Those issues will range from economic empowerment, justice, human rights and fundamental freedom, children, women & gender, peoples with disabilities, natural resource, climate change, democracy and election, hydro power dam, forestry, agriculture, sustainable development, IDPs, youth, labor migration, workers, and farmers, LGBT rights, reproductive health, etc.

By today, there are more than 500 participants, of whom more than 200 are coming from the ASEAN region. The expected number of overall participants will be around 600 and online registration is still continued by 22 March 2012. More information about the organization of this event can be visited on www.acscapf2012.org 

For further information, please contact 2012 ACSC/APF:

Mrs. Thida C Khus, Steering Committee               Tel: 012 838 464     Email:thida_khus@silaka.org  

Mr. Chhith Sam Ath, Steering Committee            Tel: 012 928 585      Email:samath@ngoforum.org.kh

Mr. Pen Somony, Program Committee                  Tel: 012 708 093      Email:pen.somony.cvs@gmail.com

Mr. Meas Samnang, Organizing Committee       Tel: 012 889 466     Email: samnang.meas@ngocrc.org

___________________________
Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC)
Address: # 9E0, St. 330, Sangkat Boeung Keng Kong III,
Khan. Chamcar Morn, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tel/Fax:  855 23 218 759 , Tel: 855 23 301 415 , 305 609
E-mail: chrac@forum.org.kh or chracsecretariat@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.chrac.org/eng/