THE ASEAN PEOPLE’S DECLARATION 2003

TOWARDS A COMMUNITY OF CARING SOCIETIES

WE THE PEOPLE OF ASEAN,

COMING FROM VARIOUS SECTORS OF OUR DIVERSE SOCIETIES,

REFLECTING SOUTHEAST ASIA’S RICH ETHNIC, CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS, ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC MAKE-UP,

AWARE THAT OUR DIVERSITY HAS NOT UNDERMINED THE REALITY OF OUR SHARED DESTINY,

COGNIZANT OF THE ASPIRATIONS OF ASEAN’S FOUNDERS TO UNITE ALL OF SOUTHEAST ASIA UNDER THE ASEAN UMBRELLA AND TO BUILD ONE SOUTHEAST ASIAN COMMUNITY THAT IS PROSPEROUS, STABLE, AND AT PEACE WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD,

MINDFUL OF THE IMPORTANCE FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING OF GENUINE AND MEANINGUL PARTICIPATION BY EVERY PERSON REGARDLESS OF GENDER, AGE, CLASS, ETHNICITY, RELIGION AND POLITICAL BELIEFS,

UPHOLD THE GOALS OF ASEAN LEADERS EXPRESSED INT THE ASEAN VISION 2020 FOR ASEAN TO BECOME “A COMMUNITY OF CARING SOCIETIES”,

DO HEREBY DECLARE:

THAT THERE ARE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CARING SOCIETIES TO WHICH WE ADHERE AND UNDER WHOSE GUIDANCE WE SHALL ACT AS RESPONSIBLE AND PARTICIPATIVE CITIZENS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA.

THESE PRINCIPLES INCLUDE:

INCLUSIVENESS – THESE GOALS CANNOT BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT INVOLVING ALL STAKEHOLDERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT HAVE SO FAR BEEN LEFT OUT IN THE CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES AND THEIR FUTURE.

REPRESENTATION – THERE SHOULD BE REPRESENTATION OF NON-STATE ACTORS AND CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE ASEAN PROCESS, REGULAR CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN STATE AND NON-STATE ACTORS SHOULD BE HELD AT REGIONAL LEVELS, AND EFFECTIVE MECHANISM LINKING THEM WITH ASEAN INSTITUTIONS BE ESTABLISHED.

TOLERANCE – RECOGNIZING THE NECESSITY OF TOLERANCE IN THE ASEAN COMMUNITY BY ACCOMODATING VARIOUS DIFFERENCES IN THE REGION AS THE FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS OF PEACE, STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN THE REGION.

OPENNESS – OUR ABILITY TO CARE FOR AND SHARE WITH EACH OTHER REQUIRES AN OPEN MIND IN LISTENING TO EACH OTHER AND THE MANY VOICES THAT SEEK TO BE HEARD.

GOOD GOVERNANCE – THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS MUST BE DEMOCRATIC AND TRANSPARENT, AND ASEAN LEADERS HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR CITIZENS AS THE ASEAN PEOPLES HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS, BOTH FULFILLING THEIR DUTIES AS THEY ENJOY THEIR PRIVILEGES AND RIGHTS.

SOCIAL JUSTICE – UNITING THE PEOPLES OF ASEAN IN THE CONTINOUS PURSUIT FOR THE FAIRER DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH, EQUAL ACCESS TO NATIONAL RESOURCES, THE RIGHT TO ENJOY QUALITY EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE, ERADICATION OF POVERTY AND A GREATER DEGREE OF PEOPLE’S EMPOWERMENT.

COMMUNITY BUILDING – BUILDING PEOPLE CENTERED COMMUNITY THAT COMBINE HUMAN SECURITY DEVELOPMENT WITH REGIONAL COOPERATION DESIGNED TO CREATE A TRUE SOUTHEAST ASIA COMMUNITY, THAT OUR COOPERATION IS GENUINE, LONG LASTING AND INVOLVING ALL STAKEHOLDERS.

FURTHERMORE,

THAT THE GOALS OF THE ASEAN 2020 CANNOT BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT ADHERENCE TO THE ABOVE PRINCIPLES;

TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS, PEACE AND SECURITY MUST BE ENSURED AT THE NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS FOR THE PROMOTION OF MUTUAL BENEFITS FOR SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL COOPERATION FOR THE PROSPERITY AND WELL BEING OF ASEAN COUNTRIES;

THAT THESE GOALS TO BE ACHIEVED IN A CHANGED AND CHANGING WORLD, ALSO REQUIRE A REVISION OF ASEAN PROCESSES AND INSTITUTIONS;

THAT WE SHALL STRIVE TO MAKE OUR ASEAN LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE POLICIES THEY UNDERTAKE THAT AFFECT OUR COLLECTIVE AND INDIVIDUAL WELL BEING;

THAT INFORMED BY THE ASPIRATIONS AND HUMAN SECURITY CONCERNS OF OUR RESPECTIVE SECTORS, WE SHALL CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THEIR ADVANCEMENT;

THAT WE SHALL STRIVE TO CREATE A GENUINE COMMUNITY OF CARING SOCIETIES IN ASEAN A REALITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS THROUGH THE ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTION PLANS AT EACH ASEAN PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY FOR THE STRENGTHENING OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND DEVELOPMENT OF EXISTING COMMUNITY PRACTICES IN EACH ASEAN MEMBER COUNTRIES.

ADOPTED AT APA 2003, SEPTEMBER 27, 2003, MANILA, PHILIPPINES.