The Institute for Strategic and Development Studies (ISDS Philippines) is an independent non-profit, policy research and advocacy institution that is also involved in training activities in cooperation with other training institutions at home and abroad. It was founded by a group of academics from the University of the Philippines Diliman in April 1991. It was established in response to the need for an ongoing evaluation and interpretation of the changes in national and international affairs by serious international, regional, and national analysts. It was also aimed at responding to the need to provide academics a venue for research to enrich teaching and to provide inputs to policy-making.

 

Recent Events:

 

     

 

 

16th ASEAN-ISIS Colloquium on Human Rights

THE ASEAN CHARTER AND CIVIL SOCIETY INVOLVEMENT IN HUMAN RIGHTS

PROTECTION AND PROMOTION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

26-27 February 2009

Edsa Shangri-la Hotel

Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila

The Philippines

 

    

                                                                        

AICOHR 2009 looks into how existing regional human rights networks can locate their advocacy roles within the context of the ASEAN Charter, and harmonize their efforts towards persuading and pressing governments into establishing a strong and independent regional human rights body. Second, drawing from the collective experiences of the members of these networks and their perceptions of the requirements of the region, cooperate to influence the form and structure of the regional human rights body, the qualifications and process of appointment of its members, and its relationship with ASEAN collectively, and its member-states separately. And third, AICOHR 2009 explores the oversight mechanisms that will be needed to ensure that the regional body will effectively implement its mandate on and monitor the promotion and protection of human rights in the region.

  

     

 

 

Trainings on Security Sector Reform (SSR)

9th-11th December 2008

Traders Hotel Manila

Roxas Boulevard, Metro Manila

The Philippines

 

       

                     

The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF), Facilitation Network on Security Sector Reform (GFN-SSR) and the Institute for Strategic and Development Studies (ISDS) together with the Association for SSR Education and Training (ASSET) conducted a three-day training on Security Sector Reform (SSR) last 9-11 December 2008 at the Traders Hotel Manila. The participants in this event were researchers, government officials and academics from South and Southeast Asia.

The training course was designed to introduce the basic principles, approaches and practices of SSR.  Representatives from DCAF’s International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT) began the training by tracing the origins of the SSR discourse and explaining its importance in promoting good governance, development and peace building. It was pointed out that although SSR is not a clear-cut concept, there is a broad recognition that it is a process that aims to make security institutions accountable, effective, respectful of international norms and locally owned. The introductory session was followed by the application of the concept in South and Southeast Asian contexts. It was acknowledged that SSR goes by different labels in different countries which could have embarked on a series of reforms in the spirit of SSR even prior to the development of “security sector reform” as a concept. <<Read More>>

 

Schedule of Activities: 

Session 1 - An Introduction to Security System Reform Policy and Practice

Session 2 - Applying the SSR concept to the South and South East Asian Context

Session 3 - The Security System Mapping Exercise

Session 4 - Undertaking SSR Assessments

Session 5 - Promoting a Favourable Political Environment for SSR

Session 6 - An Introduction to SSR Programme Design

Session 7 - Introduction to the Simulation Exercise on SSR Programming

 

 

Previous Events:

 

The Sixth ASEAN People's Assembly, “ASEAN at Forty: Realizing the People's Expectations”, ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN ISIS), Foundation Open Society Institute, Canadian International Development Agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, The Philippines, 24-25 October 2007. < Learn More >

 

The Fourteenth ASEAN ISIS Colloquium on Human Rights, “A Regional Human Rights Mechanism as an Imperative for Building an ASEAN Security Community”, Institute for Strategic and Development Studies, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Edsa Shangri-la Hotel, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, The Philippines, 4-5 May 2007. 

 

                                                  

 

 

The Fourteenth ASEAN-ISIS Colloquium on Human Rights (AICOHR) was held in Manila on 4-5 May 2007, and was hosted by the Institute for Strategic and Development Studies (ISDS) for the ASEAN ISIS. 

 

The two-day meeting had for its theme “A Regional Human Rights Mechanism as an Imperative for Building an ASEAN Security Community.”  Some 50 local and international participants from Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe representing human rights commissions, civil society groups and think tanks exchanged ideas and insights on various issues and concerns related to the promotion of the establishment of a regional human rights body in Southeast Asia.

 

The keynote address for the 14^th AICOHR was given by Undersecretary Erlinda F. Basilio, Undersecretary for Policy at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines. The speech was read in her behalf by Assistant Secretary Romeo Manalo, of the Office of Asian-Pacific Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs. <<Read More>>

 

Workshop on “The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and Transnational Security Challenges”, Institute for Strategic and Development Studies, and the London School of Economics and Political Science Economic and social Research Council, Edsa Shangri-la Hotel, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, The Philippines, 3 May 2007.

 

Roundtable Discussion on “Contemporary Challenges to Humanitarian Action in East Asia”, Institute for Strategic and Development Studies, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, Edsa Shangri-la Hotel, Mandaluyong City, Metro manila, The Philippines, 2 May 2007.

 

Dissemination Forum, “ Developing a Security Sector Reform Index (SSRI) in the Philippines: Towards Conflict Prevention and Peace Building”, Institute for Strategic and Development Studies, United Nations Development Programme, and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Discovery Suites, Pasig City, Metro Manila, The Philippines, 19 March 2007.

 

International Conference on “Strengthening the Role of ASEAN Parliaments in Security Policy Review”, Institute for Strategic and Development Studies, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, Edsa Shangril-la Hotel, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, The Philippines, 10-11 February 2007.

 

Experts' Workshop on “Security Sector Reform (SSR): Lessons to be Learned from Northeast and Southeast Asia”, Institute for Strategic and Development Studies, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, The Philippines, 8-9 February 2007.

 

Fifth ASEAN People’s Assembly, “The Role of the People in Building an ASEAN Community of Caring and Sharing Societies,” ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN ISIS), Foundation Open Society Institute, Canadian International Development Agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, The Asia Foundation, and The ASEAN Secretariat, Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, The Philippines, 8-9 December 2006. <<Learn More>>