Series Talk "Stretching Exercise: The Exercise to Defend Southeast Asian Civic Space"

The concept of ‘stretching’ is a contrast to the concept of ‘shrinking’. ‘Stretching Exercise’ symbolizes the continuous activism and organizing of Southeast Asian civil society organizations, movements, and human rights defenders amid the shrinking of civic space and repressive restrictions despite knowing the price for their activism. Their activism ensembles the warm-ups and stretching exercises, which are mild, but extends and defends the existing civic space. Such activism, in the context of shrinking civic space, maintains their momentum, and is very active and innovative.

Asia Citizen Future Association (ACFA) is dedicated to connect Taiwan and Southeast Asian civil society to develop collective strategies to defend civic space. Through the four events in the series, “Stretching Exercise: Defend Civic Space in Southeast Asia”, ACFA invites more than 10 speakers from Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, and a Southeast Asian regional organization, to discuss how organizations and activists working on various issues continue their work and push for human rights developments through local, regional, cross-regional collaborations and cross-cutting strategies.

(Anti-)normalizing reviving authoritarianism and shrinking civic space : cases of Indonesia, Philippines, and Taiwan

Pause and Reboot: Momentum of Youth Movements in Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia

How Do LGBT+ Communities Build Social Movements and Develop Organizations in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar?

Cross-Regional Initiatives and Solidarity Building: The Example of ‘Wifi Now for Fishers’ Rights’ Campaign