Phnom Penh, 9 December 2016 – The University of Cambodia and the Human Rights Resource Centre (HRRC) successfully hosted a symposium on the theme “Risks and Opportunities: The Rights of the Youth in the AEC” at the University of Cambodia Main Campus. The event aimed to disseminate knowledge on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its policies, particularly those found in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025, and highlight the AEC’s impact on the rights of Cambodian youth.
The well-attended event was opened by H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Founder and President of the University of Cambodia. H.E. Ong Keng Yong, former Secretary-General of ASEAN and Executive Deputy Chairman of S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at the Nanyang Technological University, delivered the keynote lecture on ASEAN, economic integration, and the opportunities for the youth in the AEC.
This was followed by an engaging lecture from Professor David Cohen, Director of the WSD HANDA Center for Human Rights and International Justice, on the role of rule of law for human rights in ASEAN. Professor Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, HRRC Acting Executive Director, on the other hand, explained the ASEAN human rights framework and the human rights implications of the AEC. The last speaker, Dr. Chhun Vannak, Director of the ASEAN Study Center at the University of Cambodia, discussed how Cambodian youth can prepare for the AEC.
The panel discussion was followed by a candid open forum, which provided participants with the opportunity to further discuss with the speakers the implications of the developments in ASEAN and how the youth can benefit from economic integration.
Professor Din Merican, Acting Dean of the Techo Sen School of Government and International Relations at the University of Cambodia, provided the closing remarks to conclude the symposium.
