The Strengthening Human Rights and Peac Research and Education Program in Southeast Asia (SHAPE-SEA), hosted by the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRP), Mahidol University, convened its Governing Board meeting on 6-7 February 2025 in Bangkok. The Board reviewed key milestones from 2024 and explored strategic directions for 2025, aligning with SHAPE-SEA’s overarching goal of fostering a culture of human rights and peace education and research across Southeast Asia. The roadmap includes national and regional training programs, research initiatives, and academic seminars aimed at strengthening collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the region.
Dr. Vachararutai Boontinand, SHAPE-SEA’s Executive Director and a lecturer at IHRP, led the discussions alongside Dr. Bencharat Sae-Chua, IHRP’s representative on the Board. The meeting brought together a diverse group of board members representing key institutions from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the ASEAN University Network (AUN), fostering regional collaboration in human rights and peace education. The discussions were further enriched by the presence of Dr. Le Thanh Forsberg, Senior Advisor for Regional Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden, who joined on the second day to provide feedback and insights on how to further strengthen the partnerships and advance SHAPE-SEA’s mission across Southeast Asia.
This meeting was particularly significant as SHAPE-SEA marks its 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade of advancing human rights and peace education and research in the region. Over the years, SHAPE-SEA has played a crucial role in knowledge production, promoting critical scholarship, and providing essential support for academic institutions, researchers, and emerging scholars. Through its various initiatives, the program has strengthened research capacities, facilitated regional collaboration, and contributed to shaping discourse and policy on human rights and peace in Southeast Asia. For more information, visit www.shapesea.com.
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