ASSOCIATION OF

SOUTHEAST ASIAN
NATIONS -- ASEAN
PREPARED BY: KAREN DESPHY
 ASEAN Community Councils
The ASEAN Community Councils came into force on 15 December 2008.
The councils had provided the institutional framework required to achieve
the ASEAN Community by 2015. Under the requirements of the Charter, this
forms the newly approved organizational structure of the ASEAN Secretariat.
The ASEAN Community Councils includes the three pillars of ASEAN.
ASEAN Community Goals

The ASEAN Community shall be established

comprising three pillars, namely political and security
community, economic community, and socio-cultural
community that are closely intertwined and mutually
reinforcing for the purpose of ensuring durable peace,
stability, and shared prosperity in the region.
ASEAN COMMUNITY BUILDING
ASEAN:
A people-oriented community

ASEAN ASEAN ASEAN

Political-Security Economic Socio-Cultural
Community Community Community
(APSC) (AEC) (ASCC)

Narrowing the Development Gap (NDG)

The ASEAN Journey to Community Building

2015
2007
Dec 31st
Cebu Declaration
2003 Realisation of
the ASEAN
Bali Concord II Community

1997
ASEAN Vision 2020

1967
Bangkok
Declaration
ASEAN Political – Security
Community
To build on what has been constructed over the years in the field of political and
security cooperation, the ASEAN Leaders have agreed to establish the ASEAN Political-
Security Community (APSC). The APSC shall aim to ensure that countries in the region
live at peace with one another and with the world in a just, democratic and
harmonious environment.

The members of the Community pledge to rely exclusively on peaceful

processes in the settlement of intra-regional differences and regard their security as
fundamentally linked to one another and bound by geographic location, common
vision and objectives. It has the following components: political development; shaping
and sharing of norms; conflict prevention; conflict resolution; post-conflict peace
building; and implementing mechanisms.
ASEAN Political-Security Community
(APSC) Blueprint
The APSC Blueprint promotes political stability, democracy and good governance
among the member countries. It also contains the promotion and protection of human
rights and fundamental freedoms to enhance political development. As the rule of law,
human rights is addressed as a rules-based community of shared values and norms.
Under APSC, lists of specific action are to be undertaken by ASEAN member states to
promote and protect human rights including the rights of migrant workers, the rights of
women and children and other civil society organizations as well as to education and
public awareness on human rights.
Another characteristic under a cohesive, peaceful and resilient region with shared
responsibility for comprehensive security involves important human rights issues
relating to trafficking in persons and counterterrorism.
The APSC Blueprint also suggests strengthening criminal justice responses to trafficking
in persons and enhancing cooperation to combat people- smuggling.
 APSC Blueprint

Political Security External

Cooperation Cooperation Relations
• A rules-based • A cohesive, • A dynamic and
community of peaceful, stable outward-looking
shared values & & resilient region region in an
norms with shared increasingly
responsibility for integrated and
comprehensive interdependent
security world
APSC COMMUNITY-BUILDING
MANDATE
People live Relations between
ASEAN & Dialogue
in peace Partners

Maintain Open, transparent

centrality & inclusive
 APSC Community-Building
Milestones
• Treaty of Amity and Cooperation
• 78 non-ASEAN Member States & organisations have
accredited their Ambassadors to ASEAN
• 42 ASEAN Committees in Third Countries to raise ASEAN
awareness and profile
ONGOING WORK IN APSC PILLAR
• ASEAN Community’s Vision 2025

• Timor-Leste’s Application for ASEAN Membership

• South China Sea

• SEANWFZ Protocol

• Women & children: ACTIP & RPA

• Transnational crime & violent extremism: AMMTC

 Post-2015 Vision for APSC

“An ASEAN Political-Security Community where peace, stability and security

prevail and the peoples live in a safe and secured environment, with shared principles,
values and norms, with enhanced external relations in depth and scope, strengthened
ASEAN’s centrality in the regional architecture, and an ASEAN common platform on
global issues.”

From the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration on

the ASEAN Community’s Post-2015 Vision
12 November 2014
ASEAN Economic Community
The establishment of the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC) in 2015 is a major milestone in the
regional economic integration agenda in ASEAN, offering
opportunities in the form of a huge market of US$2.6
trillion and over 622 million people. In 2014, AEC was
collectively the third largest economy in Asia and the
seventh largest in the world.
AEC Blueprint 2025
The AEC Blueprint 2025, adopted by the ASEAN Leaders at the 27th ASEAN
Summit on 22 November 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, provides broad
directions through strategic measures for the AEC from 2016 to 2025. Along with
the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, and the ASEAN Political-Security Community
(APSC) Blueprint 2025 and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint
2025, the AEC Blueprint 2025 forms part of ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together.
It succeeded the AEC Blueprint (2008-2015), which was adopted in 2007.

The AEC Blueprint 2025 is aimed towards achieving the vision of having an
AEC by 2025 that is highly integrated and cohesive; competitive, innovative and
dynamic; with enhanced connectivity and sectoral cooperation; and a more
resilient, inclusive, and people-oriented, people-centred community, integrated
with the global economy
 The AEC Blueprint 2025 consists of five interrelated and mutually
reinforcing characteristics, namely:

(i) A Highly Integrated and Cohesive Economy;

(ii) A Competitive, Innovative, and Dynamic ASEAN;
(iii)Enhanced Connectivity and Sectoral Cooperation;
(iv)A Resilient, Inclusive, People-Oriented, and People-Centred
ASEAN; and
(v) A Global ASEAN.

These characteristics support the vision for the AEC as envisaged

in the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.
 A H I G H LY I N T E G R AT E D
AND COHESIVE ASEAN
ECONOMY
The main objective:
1. facilitate the smooth
movement of goods, services,
investment, capital, and skilled
labour among the ASEAN
members.
2. This is to enhance the trade
and production network of the
ASEAN and to establish a more
unified market for its firms and
consumers.
COMPETITIVE,
I N N O V AT I V E , A N D
DYNAMIC ASEAN
This means focusing on the
global competitiveness of the
ASEAN and productivity of the
region.
Some actions include:
Deepening the participation of
ASEAN in the Global Value Chains;
Creation of an effective
competition policy.
 A R E S I L I E N T,
ENHANCED
CONNECTIVITY INCLUSIVE, A GLOBAL
AND SECTORAL
C O O P E R AT I O N
PEOPLE-ORIENTED
AND PEOPLE- ASEAN
CENTRED REGION
This aims to strengthen the This is to create progress of
The main objective: ASEAN in integrating the
 Enhance economicroles of micro, small, and
medium enterprises, and region into the global
connectivity in the region economy by free trade
through its private sectors in the ASEAN in
various
order to cope up with areas and by creating
sectors; economic partnership
globalisation, and technological
 Sectors - transportation,advances to name a few. agreements with its
telecommunications, and dialogue partners.
energy. All will be achieved by doing
some the following:
 Promotion of entrepreneurship and
human capital development;
 Enhancement of policies in the
MSMEs.
ASEAN Socio – Cultural Community

The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community aims to contribute to

realising an ASEAN Community that is people-oriented and
socially responsible with a view to achieving enduring solidarity
and unity among the peoples and Member States of ASEAN. It
seeks to forge a common identity and build a caring and sharing
society which is inclusive and where the well-being, livelihood,
and welfare of the peoples are enhanced.

ASCC is focused on nurturing the human, cultural and natural

resources for sustained development in a harmonious and
people-oriented ASEAN.
 ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
(ASCC) Blueprint

The ASCC Blueprint represents the human dimension of ASEAN

cooperation and upholds ASEAN commitment to address the region’s
aspiration to lift the quality of life of its peoples. The goals of the ASCC
are envisaged to be achieved by implementing concrete and productive
actions that are people-centred and socially responsible. This set of
cooperative activities has been developed based on the assumption
that the three pillars of the ASEAN Community are interdependent and
interrelated and that linkages are imperative to ensure complementarity
and unity of purpose.
 ASCC BLUEPRINT
Primary Goal:
To contribute to realising a people-centred and socially-responsible
ASEAN Community by forging a common identity and building a caring
and sharing society

Building
Human Environmental
Sustainability ASEAN
Development
Identity

Narrowing the
Social Welfare Social Justice
Development
& Protection & Rights Gap
Main Thrusts of 3 Pillars of ASEAN Community
APSC AEC ASCC
1. Rules-based 1. Common market and 1. Human resources
community shared base of Development
2. Peaceful, evolutionary, production 2. Provide adequate
shared-sense of 2. Competitive with other social welfares and
responsibility, and regions services
possessing 3. A region with few 3. Social rights and
comprehensive developmental gaps justice
security
3. 4. A region that is 4. Environmental
Dynamic, supports
integrated and yet able sustainability
efforts to form a global
to retain its own 5. ASEAN identity
outreach and mutual
interdependence momentum in moving 6. The narrowing of
4. forward external developmental gap
Promotion and
economic relations between Member States
Protection of Human
Rights
The ASEAN Charter serves as a firm foundation in achieving the ASEAN Community
by providing legal status and institutional framework for ASEAN. It also codifies
ASEAN norms, rules and values; sets clear targets for ASEAN; and presents
accountability and compliance.

The ASEAN Charter entered into force on 15 December 2008. A

gathering of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers was held at the ASEAN
Secretariat in Jakarta to mark this very historic occasion for ASEAN.
 With the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN will henceforth
operate under a new legal framework and establish a number of new
organs to boost its community-building process.

In effect, the ASEAN Charter has become a legally binding agreement

among the 10 ASEAN Member States. It will also be registered with the
Secretariat of the United Nations, pursuant to Article 102, Paragraph 1 of
the Charter of the United Nations.
 The importance of the ASEAN Charter can be seen in
the following:

• New political commitment at the top level

• New and enhanced commitments
• New legal framework, legal personality
• New ASEAN bodies
• Two new openly-recruited DSGs
• More ASEAN meetings
• More roles of ASEAN Foreign Ministers
• New and enhanced role of the Secretary-General of ASEAN
• Other new initiatives and changes
 ASEAN Leaders Sign ASEAN Charter Singapore, 20
November 2007

The ASEAN Charter was signed , 20 November 2007, by the

Leaders of the 10 ASEAN Member States at the 13th ASEAN
Summit in Singapore.
 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ASEAN CHARTER
ASEAN Member States have codified organic Southeast Asian diplomacy, listed
key principles and purposes of ASEAN.
The Charter represents a momentous occasion for ASEAN Member States to
reiterate their commitment to community-building in ASEAN, as can be seen in
the Preamble, and to reposition ASEAN to better meet challenges of the 21st
century with new and improved ASEAN structure, as shown in Chapter IV.

ASEAN former Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong says that “the ASEAN Charter will
serve the organization well in three interrelated ways, such as, formally accord
ASEAN legal personality, establish greater institutional accountability and
compliance system, and reinforce the perception of ASEAN as a serious regional
player in the future of the Asia Pacific region”.
 HISTORIC AGREEMENT

The ASEAN Charter is, therefore, an historic agreement among the ten Member
States to establish the legal and institutional framework for ASEAN as the premier
inter-governmental organization of the region.

• There are 13 Chapters, 55 Articles, and 4 annexes in the ASEAN Charter.

• It was drafted by the High Level Task Force on the Drafting of the ASEAN
Charter, consisting of one representative from each of the 10 Member States.
• After its signing, the Charter will have to be ratified (or formally accepted to be
bound) in every Member State.
• It will come into force on the 30th day after the deposit of the tenth instrument
of ratification (or instrument of acceptance) with the Secretary-General of ASEAN.
• The Charter will be registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations.
PEOPLE-ORIENTED ASEAN
• ASEAN is moving from being State-centric to be more people-
oriented. At least 10 of the 15 stated purposes of ASEAN in Chapter I
concern the livelihood and well-being of peoples in ASEAN.

DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

• Adherence to democratic values, and respects for human rights and
fundamental freedoms are stipulated in three separate places in the
Charter : the Preamble, the Purposes, and the Principles
ASEAN Human Rights Body
• The Charter calls for the establishment of an ASEAN human rights body
as a new organ of ASEAN. This is a new and important commitment in
ASEAN as far as promotion and protection of human rights and
fundamental freedoms of peoples in ASEAN are concerned.
• The terms of reference for the ASEAN human rights body shall be
determined by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting.
ADDITIONAL PRINCIPLES
• the key principles of ASEAN : “shared commitment and collective responsibility
in enhancing regional peace, security and prosperity” and “enhanced
consultations on matters seriously affecting the common interest of ASEAN”.

LEGAL PERSONALITY
• In Chapter II, ASEAN Member States confer on ASEAN a legal personality, which
is separate from theirs.
IMPROVED STRUCTURE
There are interesting institutional changes that the ASEAN Charter will bring about
include.
• Essentially, the improved structure will enable ASEAN to improve coordination,
ensure prompt implementation of decisions and agreements, and speedy response
to new opportunities and challenges.
Important changes include :
• Convening ASEAN Summit twice a year, instead of once a year
• ASEAN Foreign Ministers to serve as the ASEAN Coordinating Council
• Single Chairmanship for key high-level ASEAN bodies
• Appointment of Member States’ Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, to form
a Committee of Permanent Representatives, in Jakarta
• Establishment of an ASEAN human rights body
ENTITIES ASSOCIATED WITH ASEAN
• Chapter V of the Charter concerns engagement with entities associated with
ASEAN. Five categories of these entities are listed in Annex 2. First on the list is the
ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), which is the key partner in government
of ASEAN.
• The Secretary-General of ASEAN is in charge of updating the list, upon the
recommendation of the Committee of Permanent Representatives in Jakarta.

CONSULTATION AND CONSENSUS

• The Charter reaffirms as “a basic principle” decision-making in ASEAN by
consultation and consensus.
• Where consensus cannot be achieved, the ASEAN Summit may decide on how a
specific decision can be made.
• If there is a serious breach of the Charter or non-compliance, the matter will be
referred to the ASEAN Summit for decision.
NEW DISPUTE SETTLEMENT MODALITIES
• ASEAN may establish new dispute settlement mechanisms where necessary.
Disputes in the ASEAN Economic Community may be referred to the 2004 ASEAN Protocol on
Enhanced Dispute Settlement Mechanism for some solution.
• The ASEAN Chairman and the Secretary-General of ASEAN can be requested to provide
good offices, conciliation or mediation in a dispute. This is a new initiative in ASEAN.
Unresolved disputes shall be referred to the ASEAN Summit for its decision.
SINGLE CHAIRMANSHIP

• Chair of the ASEAN Summit will be the same Chair of other key ASEAN
bodies, including the three Community Councils, the ASEAN Coordinating
Council, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, and the ASEAN Defence
Ministers Meeting (ADMM), as well as their respective Senior Officials
Meetings (SOMs), and also the Committee of Permanent Representatives to
ASEAN, to be established in Jakarta.
• It is possible that the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) may also
be included under the Single ASEAN Chairmanship.
• The ASEAN Chairmanship will start on 1 January and end on 31 December.
ENGLISH AS THE WORKING LANGUAGE OF ASEAN
The Charter reaffirms that English is the working language of
ASEAN.
ASEAN IDENTITY
Under Chapter XI, the following will add to the creation of ASEAN identity:
ASEAN Motto : “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”
ASEAN flag
ASEAN emblem
ASEAN Day : 8 August
ASEAN anthem (there shall be one)