Human Rights, Peace Education and Globalization: LET Reviewer

Human Rights, Peace Education and Globalization

Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) Handout Reviewer

Prepared and Compiled by: Mr. Rhey Mark H. Diaz, T1

BSEd Social Studies, Lic. No. 1334242, Exp. June 2020

Human Rights

•       Human Rights refers to the concept of human beings as having universal natural rights, or status, regardless of legal jurisdiction or other localizing, such as ethnicity, nationality, and sex

•       Set of standards that guarantee a life befitting a rational human being

•       Are basic and minimum standards without which people can’t live in dignity

Basic Principles of the Human Rights Framework

•       Universality:

–      Human rights must be afforded to everyone, without exception.

–      The entire premise of the framework is that people are entitled to these rights simply by virtue of being human.

•       Indivisibility:

–      Human rights are indivisible and interdependent, which means that in order to guarantee civil and political rights, a government must also ensure economic, social and cultural rights (and visa versa).

–      The indivisibility principle recognizes that if a government violates rights such as health, it necessarily affects people’s ability to exercise other rights such as the right to life.

•       Participation:

–      People have a right to participate in how decisions are made regarding protection of their rights.

–      This includes but is not limited to having input on government decisions about rights.

–      To ensure human rights, governments must engage and support the participation of civil society on these issues.

•       Accountability:

–      Governments must create mechanisms of accountability for the enforcement of rights.

–      It is not enough that rights are recognized in domestic law or in policy rhetoric, there must actually be effective measures put in place so that the government can be held accountable if those rights standards are not met

•       Transparency:

–      Transparency means that governments must be open about all information and decision-making processes related to rights.

–      People must be able to know and understand how major decisions affecting rights are made and how public institutions, such as hospitals and schools, which are needed to protect rights, are managed and run.

•       Non-Discrimination:

–      Human rights must be guaranteed without discrimination of any kind.

–      This includes not only purposeful discrimination, but also protection from policies and practices which may have a discriminatory effect.

Foundation of Human Rights

•       Physiological needs

–      are a must for human survival in this universe.

–      They may include food, clothing, shelter, water and medical care. In order to ensure the right to live, these basic needs must be provided to human beings. Also, they must be provided in proper quantity and quality.

•       Psychological needs

–      are related to the mental makeup of a person.

–      These needs are reflected in terms of achievement, mental satisfaction and feelings of dignity.

–      The mind of a person should be free from worries, anxieties and mental tensions, so that he/she is able to perform his/her best.

•       Social needs

–      relate to the interaction of men, women and children in group situations.

–      A child who needs protection from outside dangers may hide himself/ herself in the lap of his/her mother.

–      Similarly a grown up person needs security against anti-social elements, i.e. robbers, terrorists and cheats etc. Society demands that all human beings should work in a cohesive manner, so that they develop a sense of belonging and identification with their society.

•       Economic needs

–      are vital for human survival and well being.

–      In the modern society, most of the human needs are met by money, so much so, that money has become the fundamental need of a person.

What are the four characteristics of human rights?

•       Inherent - essential part or our lives, intrinsic

•       Universal - people have human rights whoever they are and wherever they are

•       Indivisible - human rights must be enjoyed by everyone in its full range

•       Inalienable - can’t be taken away or transferred (but can be limited when the exercise of it   is an affront to the rights of others.

Classification of Human Rights

According to nature

1.       Civil Rights – pertains to rights belonging to a person by reason of citizenship (e.g.. right to a name, right to freedom from discrimination, right to equality before the law, right to public trial, right to marry, right to leave a country, etc.)

2.   Political Rights – enables the people to participate in running or influencing the administration of the government (e.g. right to vote, right to freedom of expression, right to free and periodic elections, etc.)

 3. Economic Rights – pertains to access to resources- such as land, labor, physical, and financial capital- that are essential  for the creation, legal appropriation, and market exchange of goods and services (e.g. right to work, right to own property, right to adequate standard of living, etc. )

4. Social Rights – relates to living together or enjoying life in communities or organized groups (e.g. right to social security, right to social welfare, etc.)               

5. Cultural Rights – ensures the well-being of the individual and foster the preservation, enrichment and dynamic evolution of arts, manners and way of living of a group with principles of unity in diversity of expression ( e.g. right to take part in the cultural life, right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its application.

According to recipient

1.       Individual Rights – are rights that may be exercise by every individual

2.  Collective/Group Rights – are rights given to a specified vulnerable group which may be exercised because of one’s membership to such community such as the right to development, women’s rights, children’s rights, and indigenous people’s rights

According to source

1.       Natural Rights – are rights believed to be based on reason or given by Supreme Being. They already existed before they were recognized by law.

2. Legal Rights/ Statutory Rights – are rights recognized by laws

According to implementation

1.       Immediate – are those rights that States can readily implement because these are dependent on the States’ political will such as civil and political rights

2. Progressive – are those rights whose implementation are dependent on availability of the states’ resources and can be enjoyed gradually.

How may human rights be guaranteed?

•       Legislation- through

                                a.) Amending and supplementing national laws to suit international laws and

                                b.) promulgating new legal documents

•       Education and Campaign- educating state agents and dissemination in the grass roots level

•       National Programs of Action – serves as guide to government leaders in formulating policies and programs

Children's rights- are the human rights of children with particular attention to the rights of special protection and care afforded to the young,  including their right to association with both biological parents, human identity as well as the basic needs for food, universal state-paid education, health care and criminal laws appropriate for the age and development of the child.

Convention on the Rights of the Child

•       The Convention on the Rights of the Child provides an internationally agreed framework of minimum standards necessary for the well-being of the child to which every child is entitled. 

•       It took effect on September 2, 1990 is the most broadly ratified treaty with 191 signatories.

Main groups of children’s rights

•       Survival rights – rights to life and needs basic to a child’s existence

•       Participation rights – rights that allow children to take part in affairs that affect their lives

•       Protection rights – safeguards children need against all forms of neglect and abuse

•       Development Rights – things children need to reach their fullest potential

Convention on the Rights of the Child:   Components

•       Survival Rights – rights to life and needs basic to a child’s existence

–      Art.6 – States parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life. States parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child.

–      Art.24 – Right to health services

•       Participation Rights – rights that allow children to take part in affairs that affect their  lives

–      Art.12 – The right of the child who is capable of forming his/her own views, to express those views freely in all matters concerning him or herself, with those views being given weight depending on the age and maturity of the child.

–      Art.13 – freedom of expression

–      Art.15 – freedom of association

–      Art.17 – right to appropriate information

–      Art.18 – parents have joint primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of the children and the State shall support them in this. The best interest of the child will be their basic concern.

•       Protection rights – safeguards children’s need against all forms of neglect and abuse

–      Art.2 – non-discrimination

–      Art.7 – right to name and nationality

–      Art.8 – right to identity

–      Art.10 – right to family reunification

–      Art.11 – protection from illicit transfer and non-return

–      Art.16 – right to privacy

–      Art.19 – protection from abuse and neglect

–      Art.20 – protection of children without families

–      Art.21 – right to be adopted

–      Art.22 – right of child refugees to special care and protection

–      Art.23 – right of children with disabilities to special care

–      Art.40 – right to juvenile justice

•       Development rights – things children need to reach their fullest adequate standard of living

–      Art.28 and 29 – right to education

–      Art.31 – right to play, leisure and recreation

–      Art.31 – participation in cultural activities

–      Art.5 – right to parental guidance

–      Art.6 – right to life and development

–      Art.7 – right to a name and nationality

–      Art.9 – right to live with parents

–      Art.10 – right to family reunification

–      Art.11 – protection from illicit transfer and non-return

–      Art.12 – right to respect for one’s views

–      Art.13 – freedom of expression

–      Art.14 – freedom of thought, conscience and religion

–      Art.15 – freedom of association

–      Art.17 – right to information

–      Art.24 – right to health and health services

–      Art.26 – right to social security

–      Art.27 – right to adequate standard of living

Citizenship Education

•       Civics education

–      can be defined as educating children, from early childhood, to become clear-thinking and enlightened citizens who participate in decisions concerning society.

–      is based on the distinction between the individual, a subject of ethics and law, entitled to all the rights inherent in the human condition –

–      that is, human rights- and the citizen, entitled to civic rights, that is to say, the civil and political rights recognized by the national constitution of the country concerned

Objectives of Citizenship/Civics Education

•       educating people in citizenship and human rights through an understanding of the principles and institutions [which govern a state or nation];

•       learning to exercise one’s judgment and critical faculty;

•       acquiring a sense of individual and community responsibilities

Qualities of a Good Citizen

•       effective citizens who act out of respect for the common good; willing to deliberate about the nature of public good and how to achieve it

•       Understand and are committed to the following values inherent in the Constitution and Bill of Rights:

                Justice                  

-          Freedom                              

-          Participation

-          Equality                                

-          Diversity                               

-          Truth

-          Authority               

-          Due process                  

-          Patriotism

-          Human Rights                     

-          Rule of Law                   

-          Tolerance

•       Personal and Civic Responsibility Self Respect

•       Possess the values of compassion, ethical commitment.  social responsibility and  a sense of interdependence among people and between people and their environment

Components of Civics Education

•       Civic knowledge  and understanding

–      The set of relevant knowledge conceived as the proper foundation of civic virtue and participation. Civic knowledge includes:

–      the history of one’s country and its relation with other countries of the world,

–      the structuring and functioning of the government and the state in a democratic society,

–      the principles governing democracy including law and rights, duties and obligations of both the state and the individuals,

–      current issues and problems.

–      Civic knowledge addresses this question:  what should the citizen ideally know in order to be an effective citizen?

•       Civic intellectual / Participatory Skills. These include:

–      Skills in higher level thinking processes – critical reasoning, problem solving, decision making, perspective taking, divergent thinking, constructing hypotheses and evaluating evidences

–      Social skills identified as critical for high functioning citizens such as: Communication skills, Conflict management and conflict resolution skills, Consensus building, Problem solving and decision making 

•       Civic Values and Disposition

–      Civic dispositions refer to those attitudes and habits of mind of the citizen that are conducive to the healthy functioning and common good of the democratic system.

–      Civic commitments refer to the freely-given, reasoned commitment of the citizen to the fundamental values and principles of democracy.

–      It is expressed in their commitment to the common good through their actions (voting, volunteerism, petitioning the government for change) 

•       Civic Engagement

–      Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference.

–      It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes

–      Civic Engagement “implies meaningful connections among citizens, issues, institutions, and the political system.

Peace Education

•       State of tranquility or absence of disturbance or agitation;

•       Absence of violence or war.

•       It can be voluntary, where potential agitators choose to abstain from disturbance and may be enforced, by suppressing those who might otherwise cause such disturbance

•       Peace is a process of adjustment between what people, groups, or states want, can, and will do.

•       It is based on a consequent balance of powers and involves a corresponding structure of expectations and patterns of cooperation.

•       Peace is a condition where social justice exists. 

Characteristics of Conflict

•       Conflict is natural. It is inevitable.

•       Great changes are caused by conflict.

•       Conflict can be seen as a gift of energy that moves people to act.

•       Conflict is not the problem, it’s what you do with it that makes a difference

•       Conflict is not for winning but for learning, growing, and cooperating.

•       When conflict is understood, it becomes an opportunity to learn and create.

•       When conflict is perceived as a positive life force, those in conflict learn to control their own lives in ways that also respect others.

•       Conflict Resolution: A means of achieving Peace

Four Major Stages of Conflict Resolution and Supporting Peace

•       Conflict prevention

–      Preventing and resolving conflict before it results in violence than responding to it once it has occurred.

–      Actions to address the underlying causes of conflict include strengthening governance, improving access to human rights, economic and social development, destruction of weapons and developing a culture of peace.

–      Peace making

–      The first step to peace if fighting breaks out revolves around diplomatic measures to negotiate a ceasefire and an agreement to which all parties agree, accepting that no gains are to be won by continuing the conflict.

–       Implementing the peace agreement and rebuilding communication needs to happen on official and informal levels to build a foundation for future reconciliation.

•       Peace keeping

–      Peace agreements are fragile.

–      The presence of groups of neutral soldiers, military observers, civilian police, electoral observers and human rights monitors can encourage hostile groups not to return to the use of arms.

–      Peace keepers’ tasks can include establishing and policing buffer zones, demobilization and disarmament of military forces, establishing communication between parties, and protecting the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

•       Peace building

–      Peace building is a complex and lengthy process requiring the establishment of a climate of tolerance and respect for the truth.

–      It encompasses a wide range of political, developmental, humanitarian and human rights programs and mechanisms.

–      They include the reintegration of soldiers and refugees, demining and removal of other war debris, emergency relief, the repair of roads and infrastructure and economic and social rehabilitation.

Inequality and Gender

•       Sexism is the assertion that one sex is innately superior  or inferior to the other

•       Sex refers to one's biological identity  as male or female

•       Gender refers to the social identity of men and women;  socially constructed

•       Gender roles refer to the rights, responsibilities, expectations, and relationships of men and women

•       Patriarchy is a set of beliefs and values which lay down the supposedly “proper relations” between men and women;  a deeply entrenched and integrated system of male dominance  built into the structures of society and in the consciousness of men and women

Gender Equality in Education

•       Gender equality refers to the equal valuing of the roles of women and men.

–      It works to overcome the barriers of stereotypes and prejudices so that both sexes

–      are able to equally contribute to and benefit from economic, social, cultural and political developments within society.

–      The ultimate goal is an unbiased partnership between men and women

–      built on shared knowledge, energy, creativity and skills

Multiple Dimensions of Gender Equality in Education

•       Equality of access

–      means that girls and boys are offered equitable opportunities to gain admission to formal, non-formal, or alternative approaches to basic education.

–      Equality in the learning process

–      means that girls and boys receive equitable treatment and attention and have equal opportunities to learn.

–      girls and boys are exposed to the same curricula, although the coursework may be taught differently to accommodate the different learning styles of girls and boys.

•       Equality of educational outcomes

–      means that girls and boys enjoy equal opportunities to achieve and outcomes are based on their individual talents and efforts.

–      To ensure fair chances for achievement, the length of school careers, academic qualifications, and diplomas should not differ based on a person’s sex.

–      Mechanisms for evaluating individual achievement should also be free of any gender bias.

–      Equality of external results occurs

–      when the status of men and women, their access to goods and resources, and their ability to contribute to, participate in, and benefit from economic, social, cultural, and political activities are equal.

–      This implies that career opportunities, the time needed to secure employment after leaving full-time education, and the earnings of men and women with similar qualifications and experience are the same.

Gender Inequality

•       It works to overcome the barriers of stereotypes and prejudices so that both sexes are able to equally contribute to and benefit from economic, social, cultural and political developments within society.

•       When women and men have relative equality, economies grow faster and there is less corruption.

•       When women are healthy and educated, their families, communities and nations benefit

Social Inequality

•       Women and men usually have different roles and responsibilities in their daily work.

•       Men tend to do heavier, riskier work that is usually located outside of the home.

•       Men's work tends to have a higher status than the work done by women, who have the main responsibility of caring for children and the elderly, and providing food for the family.

•       Women often have unequal access to education and health services.

•       Social customs that encourage or force girls into teenage marriages and early child bearing have direct and dangerous consequences for their health.

•       There are high levels of violence against women in all countries around the world.

Economic Inequality

•       Nearly 70% of the world's poor are female, and the number of women living in poverty has increased disproportionately in recent years compared with the number of men.

•       Women have unequal access to economic resources, such as capital, credit, labor and land, and limited opportunities for employment and career advancement which restricts their ability to improve their economic situation.

•       Females have unequal access to education and training opportunities, which leads to low literacy levels and employment in unskilled, low status jobs

Political and Legal Inequality

•       Women are very poorly represented at all levels of formal decision making in society, but particularly regional and national levels.

•       The legal system in many countries discriminates against women in the areas of family law, inheritance, property and land ownership, citizenship and criminal law.

Gender Equality Education Areas for Action

•       Human Rights 

–      Promote respect for the human rights of women and female children as an integral part of the Convention of the Rights of the Child,

–      and of women as an integral part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

–      Education

–      Commit ourselves to the promotion of gender equity in education, ensuring universal access to basic education for all children and equality of access to advanced education.

–      Health

–      Support and promote gender equality in health status, access to facilities, utilization of services, and research and information dissemination on women's health.

•       Reproduction and Nurturing

–      Encourage men and women to enjoy the rewards of childrearing, to share the costs and burdens, and to assume responsibility for reproduction.

•       Poverty and Economic Opportunity

–      Resolve to promote gender-sensitive efforts to eradicate poverty that would support women's economic opportunities and would advance gender equality, including the revision of laws and administrative procedures that limit disadvantaged women's access to jobs and livelihoods.

–      Public Imagery and Self-Esteem

–      Join in actions for projecting more positive and realistic imagery of women (their bodies, personhood, and dignity) as well as more positive imagery of men in gender-equal and supportive roles.

–      Political and Institutional Participation

–      Support a realignment of power in decision-making -- the sharing of power between women and men -- in order to achieve women's leadership and participation in all arenas of political and institutional life.

How gender stereotyping takes place?

•       Gender stereotypes are the ascribed traits, characteristics, attributes and roles relegated to men and women. The assumption behind stereotypes is that the ascribed attributes of men are apply to all men and that of women are apply to all women.

•       Gender stereotyping is the tendency of a given culture to ascribe particular traits, characteristics and roles distinctly to man and woman.

•       Individuals are then judged according to their group’s identity.

Implications of gender streotyping

•       Led to the sexual/gender division of labor (production v.s. reproduction)

•       Double/multiple  burden of women

•       Women lose their identity and capacity for full human development

•       Both women and men are victims of stereotypes

•       Women should free themselves from the bondage of stereotyping

Violence against Women (VAW)

•       Any act of gender-based violence that results or is likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty whether occurring in public or private life

There are laws that seek to address the said women’s issue such as:

•       R.A. 7877 or Anti Sexual Harassment Act of 1995

•       R.A. 8353 or Anti Rape Law of 1997

•       R.A. 8505 or Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998

•       R.A. 9208 or The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003

•       R.A. 9262 or The Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004

•       R.A. 3815 or The Revised Penal Code ( Articles related to VAW)

Global Education

•       Global education - involves learning about these problems and issues that cut across national boundaries, and about the interconnectedness of systems- ecological, cultural, economic, political and technological. 

•       Global education involves perspective taking- seeing things through the eyes and minds of others – and it means the realization that while individuals and groups may view life differently, they also have common needs and wants.

Global education involves the:

•       Study of systems (economic, political, ecological, technological)

•       Study of human values (universal and diverse)

•       Study of persistent problems ( war and peace, human rights, environmental issues)

•       Study of global history (development of global systems and human values)

Global Citizenship

•       Is aware of the wider world and has a sense of their own role as a world citizen

•       Respects and values diversity

•       Has an understanding of how the world works economically, politically, socially, culturally, technologically and environmentally

•       Is outraged by social justice

•       Participates in and contributes to the community at a range of levels from local to global

•       Is willing to act to make the world a more sustainable place

•       Takes responsibility to their actions

Global Issues

•       Children's Rights

•       Disasters

•       Education

•       Environment

•       Food Security

•       Governance

•       HIV/AIDS

•       Health

•       Human Rights

Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

•       Environmental Education (EE)

–      is a process in which individuals gain awareness of their environment and acquire knowledge, skills, values, experiences, and also the determination, which will enable them to act - individually and collectively

–      to solve present and future environmental problems.

–      Environmental education is a learning process that increases people’s knowledge and awareness about the environment and associated challenges, develops the necessary skills and expertise to address the challenges, and fosters attitudes, motivations, and commitments to make informed decisions and take responsible action (UNESCO, Tbilisi Declaration, 1978).

Components of Environmental Education

•       Awareness and sensitivity to the environment and environmental challenges

•       Knowledge and understanding of the environment and environmental challenges

•       Attitudes of concern for the environment and motivation to improve or maintain environmental quality

•       Skills to identify and help resolve environmental challenges

•       Participation in activities that lead to the resolution of environmental challenges

•       Environmental education

Principles of Sustainability

•       People are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.

•       Development today must not undermine the development and environment needs of present and future generations.

•       Nations have the sovereign right to exploit their own resources, but without causing environmental damage beyond their borders.

•       Nations shall develop international laws to provide compensation for damage that activities under their control cause to areas beyond their borders.

•       In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute an integral part of the development process, and cannot be considered in isolation from it.

•       Eradicating poverty and reducing disparities in living standards in different parts of the world are essential to achieve sustainable development and meet the needs of the majority of people.

•       Nations shall cooperate to conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of the Earth's ecosystem.

•       Nations should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, and promote appropriate demographic policies.

•       Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens. Nations shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making environmental information widely available.

•       Nations should share knowledge and innovative technologies to achieve the goal of sustainability.

•       Peace, development and environmental protection are interdependent and indivisible.

Agenda 21 identified education as an essential tool for achieving sustainable development and highlighted four areas of action for education.

These were:

•       Improve the quality of basic education;

•       Reorient existing education programmes to address sustainable development;

•       Develop public awareness and understanding; and

•       Provide training for all sectors of private and civil society

•       UN international celebrations to promote tolerance

•       Feb 21: International Mother Language Day

•       Mar 8: International Women’s Day

•       Mar 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination,

•       World Poetry Day

•       Jun 6:    International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

•       Aug 9:   International Day of Indigenous People

•       Sep 6:    International Literacy Day

•       Oct 1:    International Day of Older Persons

•       1st Mon of October: Universal Children’s Day

•       Oct 5:    World Teacher’s Day

•       Oct 7:    International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

•       Oct 24   : United Nations Day

•       Nov 16: International Day of Tolerance

•       Nov 17: World Television Day

•       Dec 1:    World AIDS Day

•       Dec 2:    International Day of Disabled Persons

•       Dec 10: Human Rights Day

•       Other United Nations Celebrations

•       March 22: World Day of Water

•       March 23: World Meteorological Day

•       March 24: World Tuberculosis Day

•       April 7: World Health Day

•       April 23: World Book and Copyright Day

•       May 3: World Press Freedom Day

•       May 15: International Day of Families/ World Telecommunications Day

•       May 31: World No-Tobacco Day

•       June 5: World Environment Day

•       June 20: World Refugee Day

•       June 26: International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

•       July 11: World Population Day

•       October 16: World Food Day

•       December 18: International Migrant’s Day

•       December 29: International Day for Biological Diversity

The 8 Millennium Development Goals

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

–      Reduce by half the production of people living on less than a dollar a day

–      Reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education

–      Ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling

3. Promote gender equality

–      Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005, and at all levels by 2015

4. Reduce child mortality

–      Reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five

5. Improve women’s reproductive health

–      Reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases

–      Halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS

–      Halt and begin to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases 

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

–      Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes; reverse loss of environmental resources

–      Reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water

–      Achieve significant improvement in lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020

8. Develop a global partnership for development

–      Develop further an open trading and financial system, that is rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory.  Includes a commitment to good governance, development and poverty reduction – nationally and internationally

–      Address the least developed countries’ special needs.  This includes tariff-and quota-free access for their exports; enhanced debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries; cancellation of official bilateral debt; and more generous official development assistance for countries committed to poverty reduction

–      Address the special needs of landlocked and small island developing States

ASEAN Community 2020

ASEAN Economic Community

–        AEC will establish ASEAN as a single market and production base making ASEAN more dynamic and competitive

–        with new mechanisms and measures to strengthen the implementation of its existing economic initiatives;

–        accelerating regional integration in the priority sectors; facilitating movement of business persons, skilled labor and talents;

–        and strengthening the institutional mechanisms of ASEAN.

1. Single Market and Production Base

–        Free flow of goods

•         which the aims of a single market and production base can be achieved will also facilitate the development of production networks in the region and enhance ASEAN’s capacity to serve as a global production center

–        Free flow of services

•         no restriction to ASEAN services suppliers in providing services and in establishing companies across national borders within the region, subject to domestic regulations

–        Free flow of investment

•         Sustained inflows of new investments and reinvestments will promote and ensure dynamic development of ASEAN economies

–        Freer flow of capital 

•         offering rules for debt securities, disclosure requirements and distribution rules,

•         mutual recognition arrangement or agreement for the cross recognition of qualification and education and experience of market professionals

•         Enhance withholding tax structure, where possible, to promote the broadening of investor base

–        Free flow of skilled labour

•         allowing for managed mobility or facilitated entry for the movement of natural persons engaged in trade in goods, services, and investments, according to the prevailing regulations of thereceiving country

–        Priority Integration Sectors

•         integrating a limited number of priority sectors

•         Raising the efficiency of these key sectors will enable ASEAN to compete for capital, and retain value-added economic activity and employment in the region

•         sectoral approach allows the region to focus its  imited resources on rapid and deep integration

–        Food, Agriculture and Forestry

•         Enhance intra- and extra-ASEAN trade and long-term competitiveness of ASEAN’s food, agriculture and forestry products/commodities

2. Competitive Economic Region

–        Competition Policy

•         foster a culture of fair competition

•         Establish a network of authorities or agencies responsible for competition policy

•         Develop a regional guideline on competition policy

–        Consumer Protection

•         Strengthen consumer protection in ASEAN

•         Establish a network of consumer protection agencies

•         Organize regional training courses for consumer protection officials and consumer leaders in preparation for an integrated ASEAN market

–        Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

•         cultural, intellectual and artistic creativity and their commercialization;

•         efficient adoption and adaptation of more advanced technologies; and

•         continuous learning to meet the ever-rising threshold of performance expectations.

–        Infrastructure Development

•         secure and integrated transport network in ASEAN is vital for realising the full potential of the ASEAN Free Trade Area

•         as well as in enhancing the attractiveness of the region as a single production, tourism and investment destination and narrowing development gaps

–        Taxation

•         Complete the network of bilateral agreements on avoidance of double taxation among all Member Countries

–        E-Commerce

•         To lay the policy and legal infrastructure for electronic commerce and enable on-line trade in goods (e-commerce) within ASEAN through the implementation of the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement and based on common reference frameworks

3. Equitable Economic Development

–        SME development

•         Enhance the competitiveness and dynamism of ASEAN SMEs by facilitating their access to information, market, human resource development and skills, finance as well as technology

•         Strengthen the resilience of ASEAN SMEs to better withstand adverse macroeconomic and financial difficulties

–        Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI)

•         covers the following priority areas, namely infrastructure, human resource development, information and communications technologies (ICT), capacity building for regional economic integration, energy, investment climate, tourism, poverty reduction and improvement in the quality of life

4. Integration into the Global Economy

–        Coherent Approach towards External Economic Relations

•         Establish a system for enhanced coordination, and possibly arriving at common approaches and/or positions in ASEAN’s external economic relations and in regional and multilateral fora

–        Enhanced participation in global supply networks

•         Continuing the adoption of international best practices and standards in production and distribution, where possible; and

•         Developing a comprehensive package of technical assistance for the less developed ASEAN Member Countries

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

–            to contribute to realizing an ASEAN Community that is people-centered

–            socially responsible with a view to achieving enduring solidarity and unity among the nations and peoples of ASEAN by forging a common identity

–            building a caring and sharing society which is inclusive and harmonious where the well-being, livelihood, and welfare of the peoples are enhanced.

1. Human Development

–            Advancing and prioritizing education

•             integration of education priorities into ASEAN’s development agenda and creating a knowledge based society; achieving universal access to primary education;

•             promoting early child care and development; and enhancing awareness of ASEAN to youths through education and activities to build an ASEAN identity based on friendship and cooperation

–            Investing in human resource development

•             Enhance and improve the capacity of ASEAN human resource and develop a qualified, competent and well-prepared ASEAN labour force that would benefit from as well as cope with the challenges of regional integration

–            Promotion of decent work

•             Incorporating decent work principles in ASEAN work culture, safety and health at work place and ensuring that the promotion of entrepreneurship becomes an integral part of ASEAN’s employment policy to achieve a forward-looking employment strategy.

–            Promoting Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

•             Implement human resource development programme which will facilitate the implementation of regional ICT initiatives

–            Facilitating access to applied Science and Technology (S&T)

•             Develop policies and mechanisms to support active cooperation in research, science and technology development, technology transfers

•             commercialization and establishment of strong networks of scientific and technological institutions with the active participation of private sector and other relevant organizations.

–                          Strengthening entrepreneurship skills for women, youth, elderly and persons with disabilities

•             Increasing the participation of women, youth, elderly, persons with disabilities, vulnerable and marginalised groups in the productive workforce by enhancing their entrepreneurial skills, particularly to improve their social well-being and contribute towards national development and regional economic integration

–            Building civil service capability

•             Establish effective, efficient, transparent, responsive and accountable civil service systems through increased capacity-building, enhancement of public human resource competencies among ASEAN bureaucracies, and increased collaboration among ASEAN Member States.

2. Social Welfare and Protection

–            Poverty Alleviation

•             Fully address socio-economic disparities and poverty that persist across ASEAN Member States including achieving the MDG goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.

–            Social safety net and protection from the negative impacts of integration and globalization

•             Ensure that all ASEAN peoples are provided with social welfare and protection from the possible negative impacts of globalization and integration by improving the quality, coverage and sustainability of social protection and increasing the capacity of social risk management.

–            Enhancing food security and safety

•             Ensure adequate access to food at all times for all ASEAN peoples and ensure food safety in ASEAN Member States.

–            Access to healthcare and promotion of healthy lifestyles

•             Ensure access to adequate and affordable healthcare, medical services and medicine, and promote healthy lifestyles for the peoples of ASEAN.

–            Improving capability to control communicable diseases

•             To enhance regional preparedness and capacity through integrated approaches to prevention, surveillance and timely response to communicable and emerging infectious diseases.

–            Ensuring a drug-free ASEAN

•             Reduce significantly, the overall prevalence of illicit drug abuse in the general population, in particular students, youth and those in high-risk and vulnerable groups through preventive measures

•             and by increasing access to treatment, rehabilitation and aftercare services to ensure full re-integration into society

•             as well as through enhanced partnership between the public and private sectors and civil society organizations.

–            Building disaster-resilient nations and safer communities

•             Strengthen effective mechanisms and capabilities to prevent and reduce disaster losses in lives, and in social, economic, and environmental assets of ASEAN Member States and

•             to jointly respond to disaster emergencies through concerted national efforts and intensified regional and international cooperation.

3. Social Justice and Rights

–            Promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities

•             Safeguard the interests and rights as well as provide equal opportunities, and raise the quality of life and standard of living, for women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

–            Protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers

•             Ensure fair and comprehensive migration policies and adequate protection for all migrant workers in accordance with the laws, regulations and policies of respective ASEAN Member States

•             as well as implement the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers 1.

–            Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

•             Ensure that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is incorporated in the corporate agenda and to contribute towards sustainable socio-economic development in ASEAN Member States.

4. Ensuring Environmental Sustainability

–            Addressing global environmental issues

•             Effectively address global environmental issues without impinging on competitiveness, or social and economic development based on the principle of equity, flexibility, effectiveness

–            Managing and preventing trans boundary environmental pollution

•             Implement measures and enhance international and regional cooperation to combat trans boundary environmental pollution, including haze pollution, transboundary movement of hazardous wastes through, among others, capacity building

–            Promoting sustainable development through environmental education and public participation

•             Establish a clean and green ASEAN, rich in cultural traditions where the values and practices of the people are in accordance with the rhythm and harmony of nature, with citizens who are environmentally literate, imbued with the environmental ethics

–            Promoting Environmentally Sound Technology (EST)

•             Use environmentally sound technologies to achieve sustainable development with minimal impact on the environment

–            Promoting quality living standards in ASEAN cities/urban areas

•             Ensure cities/urban areas in ASEAN are environmentally sustainable, while meeting the social and economic needs of the people.

–            Harmonizing environmental policies and databases

•             Promote feasible efforts to harmonize on a step-by-step basis environmental policies, and databases, taking into account the national circumstances

–            Promoting the sustainable use of coastal and marine environment

•             coastal and marine environment are sustainably managed; representative ecosystems, pristine areas and species are protected; economic activities are sustainably managed; and public awareness of the coastal and marine environment instilled.

–            Promoting Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Biodiversity

•             Ensure ASEAN’s rich biological diversity is conserved and sustainably managed toward enhancing social, economic and environmental well-being.

–            Promoting the Sustainability of Freshwater Resources

•             Promote sustainability of water resources to ensure equitable accessibility and sufficient water quantity of acceptable quality to meet the needs of the people of ASEAN.

–            Responding to Climate Change and addressing its impacts

5. Building ASEAN Identity

–            Promotion of ASEAN awareness and a sense of community

•             Create a sense of belonging, consolidate unity in diversity and enhance deeper mutual understanding among ASEAN Member States about their culture, history, religion, and civilization.

–            Preservation and promotion of ASEAN cultural heritage

•             Promote the conservation and preservation of ASEAN cultural heritage to ensure its continuity to enhance awareness and understanding of the people about the unique history of the region and the cultural similarities and differences between and among ASEAN Member States as well as to protect the distinctiveness of ASEAN cultural heritage as a whole.

–            Promotion of Cultural Creativity and Industry

•             Enhance ASEAN identity and togetherness through cultural creativity and the promotion and cooperation on cultural industry.

–            Engagement with the community

•             To inculcate an ASEAN identity and build a people-oriented ASEAN where people are at the centre of community building, through the participation of all sectors of society.

6. Narrowing The Development Gap

–            Strengthen cooperation to reduce the development gap in particular the social dimensions of development between the ASEAN-6 countries and within ASEAN where some isolated pockets of under development persist.

ASEAN Political-Security Community

–        The APSC shall promote political development in adherence to the principles of democracy,

–        the rule of law and good governance, respect for and promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms as inscribed in the ASEAN Charter. It

1. A Rules-based Community of Shared Values and Norms

–        Enhance good governance and the rule of law, and to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, with due regard to the rights and responsibilities of the Member States of ASEAN

–        Rules-based Community of shared values and norms. In the shaping and sharing of norms, ASEAN aims to achieve a standard of common adherence to norms of good conduct among member states

–        cohesiveness and harmony; and contributing to the building of a peaceful, democratic, tolerant, participatory and transparent community in Southeast Asia.

2. A Cohesive, Peaceful and Resilient Region with Shared Responsibility for Comprehensive Security

–        ASEAN subscribes to the principle of comprehensive security, which goes beyond the requirements of traditional security but also takes into account non-traditional aspects vital to regional and national resilience, such as the economic, socio-cultural, and environmental dimensions of development.

–        ASEAN is also committed to conflict prevention/confidence building measures, preventive diplomacy, and post-conflict peace building.

3. A Dynamic and Outward-looking Region in An Increasingly Integrated and Interdependent World

–        ASEAN fosters and maintains friendly and mutually beneficial relations with external parties to ensure that the peoples and Member States of ASEAN live in peace

–        with the world at large in a just, democratic and harmonious environment.

–        ASEAN remains outward-looking and plays a pivotal role in the regional and international fora to advance ASEAN’s common interests.

References:

•       http://www.nesri.org/programs/what-are-the-basic-principles-of-the-human-rights-framework. Retrieved: December 26, 2014

•       ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint

•       ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint

•       ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint

•       Philippine Normal University LET Reviewer, 2006

•       St. Louie Review Center, Davao City Reviewer, Human Rights 2014