Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The research presented in this book provides a stakeholder analysis of human rights protection at a time when the region appears to be regressing into an insidious and deep authoritarianism. As political space shrinks in Southeast Asia, the book provides an insight into how civil society engaged with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council during the first (2008-2011) and second (2012-2016) cycles. Through evidence-based research, the authors in this volume identify gaps in human rights reporting and advocacy during the UPR, notably on civil and political issues such as the right to life, freedom of expression, freedom of religion and belief, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention and claims for greater autonomy. In short, The Universal Periodic Review of Southeast Asia: Civil Society Perspectives, highlights the need for more engagement on civil and political issues during the third cycle of the UPR in 2017-2020. Failing this, the UPR process risks being reduced to a platform where civil society only engages on issues that States are willing to cooperate on. If this is the case, Southeast Asia's democratic transition will suffer a long term set back.
Synopsis
Chapter 1: Introduction - The Universal Periodic Review of Southeast Asia: A Regional MappingPart 1
Chapter 2: Addressing Human Rights Protection Gaps: Can the Universal Periodic Review Process Live up to its Promise?
Chapter 3: Universal Periodic Review on South East Asia Norm Building in Transition: A Hermeneutic Approach
PART II:
Chapter 4: The Abolition of the Death Penalty in Southeast Asia: The Arduous March Forward
Chapter 5: LGBTIQ Rights in Southeast Asia: Implementing Recommendations from the Universal Periodic Review
Chapter 6: Singapore's Universal Periodic Review: Civil Society Trends and Themes
PART III:
Chapter 7: The Universal Periodic Review of Timor-Leste: Achieving Justice for Past Human Rights Abuses Under Indonesian Rule
Chapter 8: Freedom of Religion and Belief in Indonesia: Raising Awareness through Universal Periodic Review
Chapter 9: Non-Confrontational Human Rights Advocacy: Experiences from the UPR Process in Myanmar
PART VI:
Chapter 10: Can NHRIs Bridge the Implementation Gap? Assessing SUHAKAM's Effectiveness in Malaysia's Universal Periodic Review
Chapter 11: The UPR and Its Impact on the Protection Role of AICHR in Southeast Asia
Chapter 12: Conclusion: Southeast Asia's Third UPR Cycle: Moving from Process to Implementation