ASIA-PACIFIC NGO FORUM, BANGKOK 30 JUNE-JULY 3, 2004

NGOs from the Asia-Pacific region are currently meeting at an “Asia-Pacific NGO Forum” in Bangkok, Thailand. The main objective of this regional NGO forum is to set in motion a process for women NGOs and other civil society groups to prepare, consolidate and advocate their findings and recommendations at the Asia-Pacific level and to conduct follow up at the 49th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, 28 February to 11 March 2005 and other international fora.

Onsite report from Libay Linsangan Cantor, Isis International Manila

OLD COMMITMENTS, NEW STRUGGLES MARK AP NGO FORUM OPENING

30 June 2004, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand:

Reaffirming commitments, welcoming new feminists and the sparking of human rights protest opened the Asia-Pacific NGO Forum on Beijing +10 on 30 June 2004.

The Forum is taking place in Thailand at Mahidol University in Nakorn Pathom, a few kilometers west of the capital Bangkok. The goals of the Forum aim to assess as well as analyze the efforts done over the years regarding the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA): to celebrate the gains made over the years by women actively working on having the full implementation of the BPFA, identify remaining gaps that need to be worked on, and to confront emerging issues that concern or pertain to women directly. Mainly, it is clear, though, that the women here do not want to re-open BPFA for re-negotiation but rather they want to see its full implementation.

The opening ceremonies featured welcome remarks from Thailand's Privy Councillor to the King, Tanin Kraivixien, who expressed the "gratitude of the King for being chosen as the host country of this significant conference for the benefit of the world's women." Pornchai Matangkasombut, President of Mahidol University, also expressed his gratefulness at having Mahidol the host venue. The Forum's host committee report was delivered by Pawadee Thonguthai, the Vice-chairperson of the AP NGO Forum in behalf of the Chairperson of the host committee, Thanpuying Sumalee Chartikavanij of Thai Women Watch. The report noted that new groups and a new generation of feminists have committed themselves to continue on the work and the advocacy. Thus, this Forum is also seen as a "convergence of the old and new generation with the same commitment." Dr. Patricia Licuanan, chairperson of the AP NGO Forum, also welcomed the participants, saying that this forum is one way of "looking back" at past achievements, and at the same time is also a "leap forward" in terms of continuing the advocacy for the women of the world.

After the opening ceremonies, a small protest was held in front of the President's Office building where the secretariat and main plenaries are located. The protest was a rally for women human rights defenders who themselves have become the targets of human rights abuse. This is part of a global international campaign to "defend women's rights defenders."  The action was organized by Asia Pacific Women in Law and Development (APWLD).

During this first day, special workshops were conducted simultaneously, including "Lobbying and the Beijing +10 Process" by the Asia Pacific Women Watch (APWW), "Gender Mainstreaming: The True Story" by South East Asia Watch (SEAWATCH), and "Ensuring Young People's Meaningful Participation and Incorporating Their Perspectives in the Cairo and Beijing+ Processes" by the Network of Asia Pacific Youth (NAPY).

A mini-film festival was opened with the Iranian feature-length film “Zendan-e Zanan” (Women in Prison) written and directed by Manijeh Hekmat, and the Bangladesh production “When We Walk The Streets” made by the women of the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW). Filmmakers present during the filmfest will talk about and discuss their films with the audience in an open forum after each screening.

To tune in on the events and happenings of the Forum, a special web broadcast is being presented by the World Association of Community Broadcasters or AMARC. To listen in, please visit this link:  <http://www.amarc.org:8000/apngo>. 

The broadcast is also available as downloadable files at the Isis International-Manila website at: <http://www.isiswomen.org/radio/ap-webcast.html>.

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