SHAPE-SEA and HCMC University of Law, Vietnam to host National Seminar on Human Rights, Peace, and Sustainable Development in Southeast Asia
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – As Southeast Asia confronts increasingly complex challenges within its unique regional landscape—particularly in human rights, peace, and sustainable development—a dynamic two-day National Seminar will bring together experts, scholars, students, and civil society actors to engage in critical dialogue and share early findings from emerging researches across the region.
Organized by SHAPE-SEA in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, the seminar aims to address learning and gaps in human rights and peace research and education particularly in Vietnam and the sub-Mekong region. Established in 2015, SHAPE-SEA—hosted and supported by the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies at Mahidol University and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) – was founded on the vision of fostering a world where dignity, peace, and social justice are at the center.
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, this milestone—marking a decade of nurturing homegrown scholars and advocates—is not only a moment for reflection but also a renewed call to action. What we have built over the past ten years will continue to grow, strengthening a network of human rights and peace advocates dedicated to advancing social justice.
“With less than four years remaining to achieve the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Agenda, the seminar offers a timely space for reflection and collaboration. Our work in SHAPE-SEA emphasizes that the SDGs—like the concepts of human rights and peace—are not static end goals but dynamic, ongoing processes; therefore, a human rights-based approach is both crucial and necessary. This national seminar will serve as an inclusive, localized, and regional platform to critically examine how these interconnected fields must continue to evolve to meet the needs of our time.”, said Dr. Vachararutai Boontinand, SHAPE-SEA Executive Director.
Panel discussions will cover key themes including Sustainable Development, Environment, and Gender: Exploring Issues and Identifying Linkages in Southeast Asia, with a focus on Vietnam; Advancing human rights, peace and sustainable development in the Digital Era; and a platform for emerging scholars to share how they have navigated challenges and what constitute empowering factors. The seminar will also feature a Stakeholders’ Dialogue, engaging scholars and representatives from SHAPE-SEA, AUN-HRE, SEAHRN, and local partners.