Civil society organizations (CSOs) from across Southeast Asia, together with key Philippine government agencies, convened to discuss pressing human rights concerns in the ASEAN region during the Kapihan on Human Rights 2026. This year’s dialogue centered on the theme “Protection and Inclusion in ASEAN: Recommendations for the 2026 Philippines Chairship.”

The two-day event provided a platform for peoples of ASEAN to help shape the region’s human rights agenda by identifying priority issues and crafting SMART recommendations to address them. Activities during the Kapihan also served as a preview of the deeper engagement, expanded collaborations, and sustained dialogues on human rights expected in 2026, as the Philippines assumes the ASEAN Chairship.

The Philippine Working Group—where the Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC) serves as secretariat—committed to play an active role in advancing these discussions and supporting initiatives throughout the Philippines’ Chairship year.