SAPA gathers momentum
By Jet Hermida on Mar 27, 2006 in Alternative Regional Integration, DHRRA News
AsiaDHRRA, together with 30 participants from Asia-based regional organizations held the SAPA (Asian Consultation on Strategic Action Planning on Advocacy at International Meetings 2006) last 3-4 February 2006 at the Windsor Suite Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.
The idea of conducting a SAPA meeting came about during an informal sharing and consultation among several regional NGOs present during the ASEAN civil society conference last Dec 7-9 in Kuala Lumpur. The organizations saw the need to (a) Enhance cooperation among regional civil society organizations involved in advocacy and lobby at the inter-governmental processes, b) Increase impact and effectiveness of Asian civil society engagement with inter-governmental bodies, c) Develop common strategic action plans on the forthcoming international meetings in 2006.
The highlights of the meeting include a clearer definition of the role and character of SAPA as a flexible regional platform for advocacy. A common advocacy working calendar 2006-2007 which covered all important events by NGOs and inter-governmental processes was jointly developed by the participants. Working groups were created, one of which will follow thru on the engagement with ASEAN on the formulation of ASEAN Charter thru the Eminent Persons Group (EPG), its Accreditation Framework and Participation Mechanisms.
The SAPA meeting was co-organized by AsiaDHRRA, Focus on the Global South, Forum Asia, SEACA and Third World Network; with Forum Asia as the secretariat for the meeting. SAPA now stands for Solidarity for Asian Peoples Advocacy.
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