Strengthening Policies and Collaboration in Welfare Sectors

in the ASEAN Region

Bambang Shergi Laksmono

The ASEAN Community 2015

• One vision, one identity, one community

• A caring and sharing community

• The ‘We feeling’

Institutional Evolution

• Bangkok Declaration 1967, ZOPFAN 1972, TAC 1976, ASEAN 10, ARF 1994, ASEAN+ Three (1997, due to crisis), Bali Concord 2003, EAS 2005, ASEAN Charter 2008, ASEAN Blueprint.

• Essence : establishing modalities for internal and external relations in the region

The imagined society of ASEAN

• Full integration • A Mosaic •A noodle pot

Essence of APSC Blueprint

• A full-pledged community• Open regionalism

• Comprehensive security• People-oriented regionalism

• Regional power• ASEAN in the ‘driver’s seat’

ASSC

• Human development• Social welfare and protection• Social justice and social rights• Environmental sustainability

• ASEAN identity• Narrowing development gap

Cooperation in Context

The Strategy

“We need to widen and deepen our engagement and interaction with the non-governmental and civil society organizations in the region, as these organizations work closely with the people and are in a better position to articulate their aspirations for an ASEAN Community.”

Secretary-General, Surin Pitsuwan . (January, 2008)

We are A Social Modality

• Representing a community, the state, business and civil society that works in the field for the well being and justice.

• Representing areas of expertise, education and qualification that is instrumental.

• An embodiment of humanitarian purpose and process through equitable development.

Plausible within limits :from an Association to People-based

• Organizational development• Comparative policies• Voicing the voiceless

Sequencing the Process

• Mapping• Comparison• Alignment• Convergence• Integration

Entering the Cooperation Stage

• Understanding the political reality and future of ASEAN discourse.

• Knowing who we are and argue for the important existence of the helping professions.

• To mainstream social and culture ideals as an end and as mean.

• Maneuver through political-economic agendas• Humanistic ambiance.

Challenges

• Economic determinism• Political hegemony

• Rudimentary social policy as justification for liberal ideas

• International connectivity/regional consensus as for domestic advocacy

Challenges

• ASEAN’s non-interference norm was based on the belief that each member’s domestic affairs were no one else’s concern. Thus, regime type, economic structure, and ethnic and social class compositions were not to be subjects for debate within ASEAN.

Conclusion

• Social protection, development and inclusion agendas should represent a strong (strategic) element in the ASCC and be a inseparable to the three Pillars of ASEAN.

• This conference should be able to map and to some extend converge social policy, social work standard practice to common acceptance.

• Professionalism and accountability is fundamental.

Thank you very much