ASEAN Entities are accredited organisations that have been formally recognised by ASEAN for their commitment to support the regional bloc’s principles, goals, and initiatives. Article 16 of the ASEAN Charter specifically states: “ASEAN may engage with entities which support the ASEAN Charter, in particular its purposes and principles.”
To qualify for accreditation, an organisation must be non-profit in nature, have existed in ASEAN for at least two years, hold a registered office in an ASEAN Member State, and have members coming from a relatively even spread of the ASEAN Member States.
Once accredited, ASEAN Entities enjoy several privileges, such as the use of the ASEAN name, emblem and flag, and an opportunity to tap into the ASEAN Project Cooperation framework. In turn, accredited entities are required to act in accordance with ASEAN’s aims and fundamental principles, and to respect the laws and regulations of the ASEAN Member States in which they operate.
At present, there are 81 organisations accredited as ASEAN Entities. These organisations are in the following sectors: a) business organisations, b) civil society organisations, c) think tanks and academic institutions, d) parliamentarians and judiciaries, e) other stakeholders.
For more information on ASEAN Entities, please read:
ASEAN. (2007). Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ASEAN Secretariat. https://asean.org/asean-charter/
ASEAN Entities Digital Platform. https://entities.asean.org/accreditation-process/rop/
ASEAN. (n.d.). ASEAN entities (Annex 2). ASEAN Main Portal. https://asean.org/who-we-work-with/asean-entities/
