The Senior Officials Committee for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA) is a senior official body that meets at least twice a year, hosted by the ASEAN Chair of the year. Aside from the regular meeting, special or emergency meetings, such as the SOCA Retreat on 28 February 2023, it may be held to discuss a particular topic with the approval of all ASEAN Member States.
The Senior Officials Committee for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA) held its retreat on 28 February 2023. The meeting was chaired by Professor Warsito, Deputy
Minister for Education Quality Improvement and Religious Moderation, Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Indonesia and SOCA Chair.
The SOCA Leaders discussed ASEAN’s priorities, including the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) priority areas and deliverables under Indonesia’s Chairmanship theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”.
Sixteen journalists and media officials from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam travelled to New Delhi and Hyderabad, India, between 9 and 15 February 2023 as part of the ASEAN-India Media Exchange Programme 2018-2024.
India assumed the presidency of the G20 in December 2022 and is set to host the G20 Summit in 2023 after year-long deliberations on macroeconomic issues and inter-alia trade, sustainable development, health, agriculture, energy, environment, and climate change. Spearheading the G20 at a time when the world looks at a sustained exit from the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, India sees this as an opportunity as well as a responsibility. During its presidency, India aims to leverage the wide and balanced representation of both developed and developing countries that is unique to the G20 for securing global and regional equitable and sustainable growth.
Around 100 youth from ASEAN and India gathered in Hyderabad to explore new initiatives to enhance the connection between ASEAN and India during the 4th ASEAN-India Youth Summit. From 12 to 16 February 2023, young people of diverse backgrounds participated in group discussions and experiential learning, including site visits in Hyderabad, tours, and cultural performances.
The historic Asian-African Conference Building in Bandung, Indonesia, witnessed yet another notable moment on 24 July 2022 when hundreds of G20 Youth Summit (Y20) delegates gathered and declared a joint resolution for a better future. The communiqué was pivotal after a round of events that started earlier in the year.
The ASEAN Youth Forum (AYF) was first held in 2009 in sync with the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand. AYF is a youth movement that aims to provide a safe space for young ASEAN people to gather, connect, and build solidarity.
As a young musician, 25-year-old Aliff
Aolani or Airliftz, has witnessed how
the internet could be a double-edged
sword for aspiring artists.
In 2021, an online petition called #LindungiKurir, revealed troubling work conditions of Indonesian couriers. It quickly went viral. The petition stated that these platform workers were often verbally and physically threatened by Cash On Delivery (COD) customers while receiving only 2,000 Indonesian rupiah (less than a quarter of a dollar) for each package delivered to customers’ doorsteps.
On Instagram @earthtodorcas, Dorcas Tang Wen Yu creates stories and advocates for a better world through her illustrations and poems. Her activism brought her to Egypt to attend the United Nations Conference of Youth (COY) 17, which was held on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference/Conference of the Parties (COP) in 2022. Dorcas was one of the youth representatives who gathered from around the world to discuss urgent action to fight climate change.
Dorcas’ illustration is featured on the cover of this issue. She talks to The ASEAN about her passion for the environment—using her art to inspire action, and working for a better future even when it feels there is little hope for change.