The 18th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights took place on 5-8 November 2018 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on the theme of “Human Rights and Prevention of Violent Extremism”.
The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an intergovernmental forum for dialogue and cooperation established in 1996 to deepen relations between Asia and Europe. The organisation addresses political, economic and socio-cultural issues of common concern. The 18th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights aims to contribute toward a better mutual understanding of violent extremism and its underlying causes, to discuss the human rights impact of measures adopted to prevent violent extremism, as well as to identify good preventive initiatives that are aligned with human rights standards.
Violent extremism affects the well-being, dignity and security of individuals and communities, and it also poses grave challenges to the protection and enjoyment of human rights. Globally, the occurrence of attacks from violent extremists is increasing and violent extremism has taken the lives of many innocent people of different faiths, races and nationalities.
There is a need to for a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach which encompasses not only security-based counter-terrorism measures, but also preventive measures which directly address the drivers of the phenomenon. Any measure to prevent violent extremism will need to be anchored in a human rights approach and will need to be carried out in such a manner that specific groups are not targeted, and the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms are not violated.
Participation in the 18th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights took place in four simultaneous closed-door working group discussions, each focusing on one of the four following topics:
- WG1 – Push and Pull Factors of Violent Extremism
- WG2 – Targeting Violent Extremism at the Local Level
- WG3 – Violent Extremism: Women’s Involvement, Rights and Security
- WG4 – Youth, Education and Prevention of Violent Extremism
For a more detailed overview please see the seminar Concept Note.
This Seminar series is co-organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), the Raoul Wallenberg Institute (nominated by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The host of the 18th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia.
