Documentos CIDOB Asia; 5

The aim of this document is to analyse the impact that international policies in the fight against terrorism have had on the protection of human rights in Southeast Asia. After the September 11 attacks, in many countries of the region an emphasis on security issues in detriment to human rights has become evident. Although this is not a tendency exclusive to Southeast Asia, the study of two specific cases like Malaysia and Indonesia underscore this reality, although government reactions in these two countries have been different, in line with differences in their internal situations as well as in the international pressure they receive.
By way of conclusion, this article indicates three possible scenarios for the relationship between human rights and security in Southeast Asia: in the first one, security would be heightened, relegating the protection of human rights to an even lower level; in the second one, this tendency would be reversed, and, either through international pressure or through the mobilisation of civil society, human rights would receive more attention. Finally, the third scenario would mean maintaining the current situation without any substantial changes.

Pablo Pareja Alcaraz has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Administration and holds a collaboration scholarship with the Area of International Public Law and International Relations in the UPF’s Department of Law.

issn: 1696-9987 (print edition)
issn: 1697-381X (online edition)

31 pp.

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