FORUM ASIA Core Support 2020-2023 - FORUM ASIA CORE FUNDS FORUM ASIA Kärnstöd 2020-2023 New/additional funds to mitigate the impact of COVID-19
FORUM-ASIA is a member-based international NGO with a Secretariat based in Bangkok. It was founded in 1991 with the mission to strengthen the human rights movement in Asia through capacity building of human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society organizations (CSOs), coalition building with like-minded organizations, solidarity actions and evidence-based advocacy . It has Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), as well as a 'consultative relationship' with ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). At present, FA has 81 active member organizations from 21 countries in Asia. FORUM-ASIA has its headquarter in Bangkok, but also smaller offices in Geneva, Jakarta and Kathmandu. The organisation is a democratic, member based organisation with a board elected by the 81 members. 

The Embassy contribution to FORUM-ASIA is total 19 760 000 SEK  which corresponds to approximately 23% of the organization's total budget. The grant will cover core costs such as rent, salaries and administrative costs and for the implementation of organizations core activities in the form of programs for strengthening capacity and trainings of civil society organisation and Human Rights Defenders. Development of studies and research papers on Human Rights and HRD protection programs.

FORUM-ASIA immediately adapted to the COVID-19 and arranged webinars together with members and partners on different human rights and development issues, policies, and procedures formulated which are detrimental to human rights and democratic developments. Raising awareness and demanding for accountability of states through sub-regional platforms, the webinars influenced the issuance of AICHR Joint statement on COVID-19 pandemic and UN Special Rapporteur (UN SR) guidelines on Freedom of Assembly and Association (FoAA) during the pandemic. Nya medel/medeltillägg för att lindra konsekvenserna av covid-19
FORUM-ASIA har ansökt om fortsatt kärnstöd från ambassaden under perioden 2020-2022 för genomförande av sin Strategiska Plan (2016-2022). 

FORUM-ASIA är en regional ideell organisation i Asien, med huvudkontor i Bangkok, Thailand. Organisationen grundades 1991 med uppdraget att stärka mänskliga rättighetsrörelserna i Asien genom kapacitetsuppbyggnad av mänskliga rättighetsförsvarare (HRD) och civilsamhällets organisationer (CSO). I uppdraget ingår även att bygga koalitioner med likasinnade organisationer och att skapa gemensam opinion för MR-frågor på faktabaserad grund. FORUM-ASIA har rådgivande status till FN: s ekonomiska och sociala råd (ECOSOC), liksom ett ”rådgivande förhållande” med ASEAN: s regeringskommission för mänskliga rättigheter (AICHR). För närvarande har FORUM ASIA 81 aktiva medlemsorganisationer från 21 länder i Asien. FORUM ASIA har sitt huvudkontor i Bangkok, men också mindre kontor i Genève, Jakarta och Kathmandu. FORUM-ASIA är medlemsbaserad demokratiskt styrd organisation med en styrelse som röstas fram av 81 medlemmarna. 

Ambassadens bidrag är totalt 19 760 000 SEK vilket motsvarar cirka 23% av organisationens totala budget. Bidraget ska täcka för kärnkostnader som hyra, löner och administrationskostnader samt kostnader för genomförande av organisationens kärnverksamhet i form av program för utbildning och kapacitetsutveckling av civil samhälle organisationer och framtagande av studier och informationsmaterial kring MR/Demo och ett program för att skydda MR försvarare. 
  
FORUM-ASIA anpassade sig omedelbart till COVID-19 genom att arrangera webbseminarier tillsammans med medlemmar och partners rörande mänskliga rättigheter och utvecklingsfrågor.  Dessa webinarer bidrog till att, genom subregionala plattformar, öka medvetenhet och avkräva ansvarsskyldighet för stater vilket påverkade utfärdandet av AICHR Joint Statement on Covid 19 samt UN Special Rapporteur (UN SR) guidelines on Freedom of Assembly and Association (FoAA) under pandemin. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is a network of 85 member organisations across 23 countries, mainly in Asia. Founded in 1991, FORUM-ASIA works to strengthen movements for human rights and sustainable development through research, advocacy, capacity development and solidarity actions in Asia and beyond. It has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and consultative relationship with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. The FORUM-ASIA Secretariat is based in Bangkok, with offices in Jakarta, Geneva and Kathmandu.FORUM-ASIA is committed to building a peaceful, just, equitable and ecologically sustainable community of peoples and societies in Asia, where all human rights of all individuals, groups and peoples  in particular, the poor, marginalised and discriminated  are fully respected and realised in accordance with internationally accepted human rights norms and standards. It does so by:

Building the capacity of its members and partners
Bringing together activists and stakeholders to tackle human rights issues
Protecting human rights defenders in Asia that find themselves in emergency situations
Advocating for human rights at the national, regional and international level

The core support from Sweden has been supporting the implementation of FORUM-ASIAs Strategic Plan (2016-2022). In December 2022, the embassy and FORUM-ASIA signed a one-year cost extension for 2023. The support covers the first year of FA´s Strategic plan (2023-2027), to avoid gaps in the financial flows for the organisation. 

Strategy goals and objectives as formulated in the previous Strategic Plan (2016-2022), reported on in 2023: 

The overall objective 2016-2022 has been to: strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights and democracy in Asia and beyond by consolidating Asian human rights movements through effective collaboration with members and partners on international solidarity action as well as strategic engagement with states and other stakeholders at national, regional and international levels.

To achieve the overall objective, FA has focused on  four specific objectives:

1) Increased capacity of Asian civil society organisations and human rights defenders to undertake advocacy for inclusive and participatory policy-making processes in relation to human rights, democratic governance and sustainable development at national, regional, and international levels;

2) Foster an environment conducive for better human rights protection and democratic development in Asia;

3) Enhanced impact of Asian human rights defenders advocacy actions in relation to ASEAN and United Nations (UN) human rights mechanisms; and

4) Strengthened FORUM-ASIAs institutional and operational capacity as a regional umbrella organisation so that it can better serve and effectively represent its constituencies at national, regional and global levels.

Strategic goals and objectives as formulated in the new Strategic Plan (2023-2027), to be reported on in 2024:

1. Empowered civil society and marginalised communities promoting and protecting human rights, civic space and democracy in Asia:

1.1 Improved legal, policy and regulatory environment for human rights, civic space and democracy in Asia

1.2 Increased accountability of state and non-state actors on human rights violations and abuses at national, regional and international levels. 

2. Resilient Asian civil society and marginalised communities continuing their work for human rights, civic space and democracy in a safe and sustainable manner.

2.1 Increased protection and support for Asian civil society and marginalised communities including those operation in conflict and climate crises situations to continue their work on human rights, civic space and democracy in Asia

2.2 Improved operational resilience and holistic security of Asian civil society and marginalised communities including those operating in conflict and climate crisis situations to mitigate and respond to threats and attacks and sustain operations in online and offline spaces

Specific objectives on gender mainstreaming, climate crises and Business and Human Rights (BHR) have been designed in the new Strategic Plan, to give priorities to these issue in all FA programming, and with a central position in the Theory of Change (ToC)L

- strengthened promotion and protection of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment of vulnerable and marginalised communities in the context of development projects and business operations.

- enhanced recognition and inclusion of the rights and issues of vulnerable groups of different gender identities and sexual orientation, especially women and LGBTIQ groups in FA operations