JAKARTA – More than 120 representatives of Asian civil society organizations (CSOs) gathered for the September 8, 2014 opening of a three-day conference in support of the role of regional CSOs. The conference is co-hosted by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Government of Indonesia, U.N. Development Programme, The Asia Foundation and Kemitraan.

U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Blake said the conference “reflects both Indonesia’s and America’s commitment for government and civil society to work together, as exemplified by the Open Government Partnership. It is important for all democratic governments around the world to Stand with Civil Society, to show our support for peaceful, constructive participation in public life by ordinary citizens.”

The conference is a follow-up to President Obama’s “Stand with Civil Society” event, which was held on the sidelines of the September 2013 U.N. General Assembly in New York.  The President convened this event to spur coordinated international action to support and defend civil society in the face of growing restrictions on its work around the world.  During this event, the President affirmed that the strength and success of nations depends on allowing civil society to function without interference, and on robust engagement between governments and civil society to advance shared goals of peace, prosperity, and the well-being of all people.  He also committed to take concrete steps, individually and with likeminded partners, and to lead by example to promote laws, policies, and practices that expand the space for civil society to operate.

The President told the participants, “Human progress has always been propelled at some level by what happens in civil society – citizens coming together to insist that a better life is possible, pushing their leaders to protect the rights and dignities of all people.”  The Jakarta conference paves the way for a reconvening on this issue at this year’s U.N. General Assembly, which opens September 24, 2014 in New York.