COAST conducted a workshop on “Civil Society & Advocacy: The Role of CSOs” from December 4-6, 2025, in Bangkok. With more than four decades of advocacy experience, the COAST Foundation team created this three-day learning space to share knowledge and learn from frontline advocates. Fourteen participants from 7 countries— Bangladesh, Kyrgyz Republic, Indonesia, Switzerland, Myanmar, New Zealand, and Thailand— came together to strengthen regional solidarity.
The sessions explored the foundations of civil society, democracy, and human rights—connecting history with today’s challenges. Participants moved from theory to practice, using a Harvard-developed advocacy tool to identify priority issues and design action plans. Hands-on sessions also enabled participants to write media press releases and produce short advocacy videos for social media outreach.
In the interactive sessions, participants engaged with civil society champions, including Debbie Stothard from Altsean-Burma, Dr. Kritsada Boonchai from Chulalongkorn University, and M. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury from COAST Foundation. Their insights from the Asia-Pacific movement reaffirmed the vital role of Civil Society in building just, inclusive, and democratic societies. Interested! Please find details of the event- Click here
