[Media Advisory] From Complicity to Principled Leadership: ASEAN’s Responsibility to Myanmar’s People

Myanmar National Organizing Committee for ACSC/APF
ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum 2025
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
(Online: 1-31 September)/ (Inperson:14-15 October)

The Myanmar National Organizing Committee (Myanmar NOC) for ACSC/APF, comprised of 23 Myanmar civil society organizations, will be participating in the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum (ACSC/APF) 2025, which will be held as hybrid format through Online planforms and In-person setting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. From 1-31 September 2025, ACSC/APF 2025 will host different online workshops under the eight Convergence Spaces; 1) Neoliberalism & Alternative Regionalism, 2) State Violence, Militarism, National Liberation, Democracy and Human rights, 3) Tech Monopoly, Digital Authoritarianism and Internet Freedom, 4) Ecological Crisis, Environmental Rights, Agrarian and Urban Issues, 5) Ethnic and Marginal People and Gender Justice, 6) Peace Building, Human Security and Transitional Justice, 7) Economic Justice and Working People, 8) Sustainability & Resilience of CSOs. The In-person event will be held on 14-15 October in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

ACSC/APF is an annual conference where civil society organizations and peoples of ASEAN gather to discuss and address various issues across national, regional, and global boundaries. This year, the Conference’s theme is “The Hidden ASEAN”.

On 29 September, the Myanmar NOC, together with International Peace Bureau – Philippines, Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma(TACDB), ALTSEAN-Burma, and Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), will host an online workshop under the theme of State Violence, Militarism, National Liberation, and Democracy, entitled “From Complicity to Principled Leadership: ASEAN’s Responsibility to Myanmar’s People ”.

This workshop will aim to provide a comprehensive overview on Myanmar people’s efforts to end military tyranny and building inclusive bottom-up federal democracy versus  illegal military junta’s latest attempts to take control of Myanmar; to provide analysis and assessment of ASEAN’s approach to Myanmar crisis during Malaysia’s chairmanship; including recommendations to ASEAN ahead of Philippine’s chairmanship in 2026 as the regional bloc continues to try to address the Myanmar crisis with no avail.

Workshop Date/Time:  Monday, 29 September 2025/ 1:00 – 3:00 pm (Bangkok Time)

Moderator: Debbie Stothard, Founder and Coordinator, ALTSEAN-Burma

Speakers:

• Sein Hlaing, Executive Director, Equality Myanmar (EQMM)
• San Htoi, Management Board Member, Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma)
• Mee Lay, Member, Southern Initiatives (SI)

Register your attendance here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kt_oM6AzTdGKvqZUxWI1qw?#/registration

For media inquiries, please contact:

Myanmar National Organizing Committee, MMNOC.ACSCAPF@proton.me