International Relations (IR) Study Programs FISIP UNS and ASEAN Study Center LPPM UNS took part in the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Network for Input between Stakeholders organized by the Directorate of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Cooperations (dit. KSBA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) of the Republic of Indonesia. IR Study Programs and ASEAN Study Center in the FGD is represented by Septyanto Galan Prakoso as a speaker and Bintang Intra Wibisono as a moderator.
The activity with the theme “Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management in ASEAN” was held at the Grand Mercure Solo Baru Hotel, on Tuesday (16/07/2024). Lecture of IR FISIP UNS, Septyanto Galan Prakoso opened the FGD session by bringing sub-theme “Strengthening Cooperation on ASEAN Humanitarian Action: Academic Review”. He said that the cooperation on ASEAN humanitarian actions was practically good. This can be proven by the existance of many regional agreements, such as the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assictance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) and the humanitarian actions provided, such as humanitarian aids during the Palu earthquake and Covid-19.
However, in academic review, the cooperations still need to be improved, especially in research needs. He explained that the research related with the ASEAN humanitarian aids is still minimal. In fact, academic studies are really needed by government in dealing with this issue. “Therefore, we give the recommendations to optimize the role of ASEAN University Network (AUN) and ASEAN Youth in providing data-based policy related to humanitarian assistance,” explained Septyanto.
In addition, Center for Multilateral Policy Strategy at Foreign Policy Strategy Agency, Leonard felix Hutabarat, described about the challenges of humanitarian action cooperations and the need to expand ASEAN’s role in dealing with disasters. He also revealed the important of non-state actor’s role in humanitarian assistance and disaster’s management.
Finally, there was also Directorat of Human Rights and Humanity, Nara Masista Rakhmatia, she explained the International Cooperation Actions in the global context on FGD session I. Meanwhile, the stakeholders who also ASEAN partner in disaster’s management also participated in FGD session II. Namely, Chair of the Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center, Rachmawati Husein; President of Human Initiative, Tomy Hendrajati; Berau for Legal and Cooperation of National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB), Prasetio Wijaksono; and the Chair of ASEAN Studies Center UGM, Dafri Agus Salim.