“Introduction to ASEAN Community 2025: Engaging a Wider Stakeholdership in Enhancing Regional Peace and Security” is a project organized by the Human Rights Resource Centre (HRRC) and the Baha’i International Community that aims to advance collective understanding and action on the potential contribution of spiritually inspired values and teachings to regional peace and security.
Moving beyond the model of inter-faith dialogue, this project seeks to gather spiritually inspired groups in ASEAN to:
- Facilitate understanding among the different faith communities about their role in contributing to the ASEAN agenda, especially in regards to the three pillars of Political-Security, Economic and Socio-Cultural. In this context, the conversation is expected to also explore thoughts on how to define shared prosperity and being united in diversity.
- Consult and consider constructive approaches to address freedom of thought, conscience and religion as enshrined in the ASEAN Declaration on Human Rights in a way that is conducive to peace. This shall include consultations on the common values of spiritually inspired groups and the concept of moderation in bringing the freedom into practice.
- Promote a people-oriented, people-centred ASEAN in which all sectors of society are encouraged to participate in, and benefit from, the process of ASEAN integration and community building.
- Produce a draft framework that will outline how spiritually inspired values and practices can enhance each of the three pillars and also serve as a tool for organizing further activities building on the results of this project, including how ASEAN can most productively engage the spiritually inspired groups in achieving the ASEAN Community.
This project is supported by the ASEAN Foundation under Japan – ASEAN Solidarity Fund.
