Media Invite: A Workshop for ASEAN Parliamentarians on The Impact of Plastic Pollution on Human Rights
Dates: 04 July 2025 | 8:30 - 17:30 MYT
05 July 2025 | 8:30 - 13:30 MYT
Venue: Corus Hotel KLCC, Persiaran Hampshire, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Map Link)
Duration: 1.5 days
INVITATION for MEDIA COVERAGE
We cordially invite media representatives to cover a groundbreaking regional workshop bringing together parliamentarians and civil society organizations to address the urgent challenge of transboundary plastic pollution and its impact on human rights across ASEAN.
EVENT OVERVIEW
This workshop will convene parliamentarians from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines alongside regional civil society organizations to tackle one of Southeast Asia's most pressing environmental and human rights challenges.
The workshop aims to:
- To facilitate the exchange of information and expertise among parliamentarians and CSOs about transboundary plastic pollution and its impact on the right to a healthy environment in ASEAN.
- To examine laws, policies, and enforcement against plastic waste trafficking and waste crimes in the region and explore best practices.
- To discuss human rights-based solutions to plastic pollution within the context of the Global Plastic Treaty negotiations.
- To explore potential collaborations among parliamentarians and CSOs to mitigate the human rights impacts of plastic pollution.
Over two days, discussions will flow around the following sessions:
- How Does Plastic Impact Our Human Rights?
- Instruments to End Plastic Pollution: Global, Regional, and National Perspectives
- Basel Convention and Global Plastic Treaty: Challenges and Opportunities
- ASEAN Initiatives on Plastic Pollution
- Mapping National Laws and Policies on Plastic and Marine Debris
- Policy and Enforcement Against Plastic Waste Trafficking: Challenges and Opportunities
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
The workshop aims to produce a joint statement by Southeast Asian policymakers, Break Free From Plastic Asia Pacific members, and ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) emphasizing plastic pollution's impact on human rights in communities in Southeast Asia and its consideration in ASEAN policymaking. This statement will be submitted by hand to the Malaysian representative to the ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment (ASOEN) and to each member state representative for agenda inclusion at the ASOEN 36th meeting (July 28 - August 1).
MEDIA ACCESS
- Full session access: Media representatives are welcome to attend all 1.5-day sessions
- Direct interviews: Please do not invite parliamentarians for interviews during the sessions; they can be directly approached during breaks and session intervals
- No formal press briefing: While there will be no structured press conference, ample opportunities exist for informal interviews and clarifications
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This event is particularly relevant for journalists covering:
- Environmental policy and legislation
- Regional cooperation and diplomacy
- Human rights and social justice
- Waste management and circular economy
- ASEAN affairs and regional governance
REGISTER NOW! (deadline: 02 July 2025)
This workshop represents a critical step toward regional cooperation on plastic pollution, combining legislative action with human rights advocacy to address one of ASEAN's most significant environmental and socio-economic challenges.
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ORGANIZING PARTNERS
Break Free from Plastic (BFFP) & ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)
With support from BFFP members from the Asia Pacific region:
Basel Action Network (BAN), Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center), Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP), Pacific Environment and Resources Center Vietnam (PE-VN), Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Ecological Observation and Wetland Conservations (ECOTON), BAN Toxics, and EcoWaste Coalition
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For media inquiries:
Pats Oliva: Media and Communications Manager| ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) | pats@aseanmp.org
Devayani Khare: Regional Communications Manager | Break Free From Plastic - Asia Pacific (BFFP-AP) | devayani@breakfreefromplastic.org
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