In a regional policy roundtable held in Manila, Philippine Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan underscored the urgency of defending democratic systems among Asian counterparts while also acknowledging the realities faced by ordinary citizens. “We must also remember something that is easy to forget
“We didn’t just need another event. We needed a journey.” The Women’s Caucus of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) presented its inaugural mentorship initiative, the “Asian Women Education (AWE) Mentorship Program” at the first in-person meeting of
“…CALD will not only remain as your trusted partner, but will actively stand as your most reliable ally in Asia, relentlessly driving forward our collective and shared vision for a freer, more democratic world.” CALD Chairperson and Cambodian Senator Mardi
A delegation from the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) participated in a three-day visitor programme in London organized by the UK Liberal Democrats last 17-19 November 2025. The core objective of the programme is to facilitate a crucial
“Democracy, even when enshrined in a constitution, is not self-sustaining. It requires constant, vigilant maintenance.” These were the words of Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) Chairperson and Cambodian Senator Mardi Seng in his opening remarks at “Safeguarding Democratic
“What does it take to defend democracy under constant threat?” This was the question that inspired the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) to host the first ever screening of the riveting documentary Invisible Nation in Southeast Asia. Held
“These will usher in a new era for CALD!” This is how CALD Chairperson and Cambodian Senator Mardi Seng described the CALD Charter amendments unanimously approved by the CALD General Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand last 31 October 2025. Prior to
The Hague, The Netherlands: In a historic move, Liberal International (LI), a global federation of liberal and progressive democratic political parties, adopted a resolution supporting the Philippines’ rights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and calling China’s actions in the
“The case of the Philippines and Ukraine demonstrate the importance of international mechanisms that will go after the enemies of human rights. Without a doubt, Duterte and Putin belong to these class of international criminals who should all be brought
The session on peacebuilding at the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) 15th General Assembly last October 30, 2025 highlighted a critical reminder for democrats navigating the age of artificial intelligence: without peace and political stability, societies cannot fully
“We stand together in commitment to our growth, our purpose, and our shared responsibility as women leaders.” This pledge, made during the launch of the CALD Asian Women Education (AWE) Mentorship Program in Taipei, Taiwan on 8-10 August 2025, carried
“The genie is out of the bottle. AI is here to stay – for better or for worse… It has woven itself into the very fabric of economies, politics, and daily life,” said Leni Robredo, former Vice President of the
“Building sisterhood across borders.” This appears to be the maxim of the women’s wing of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) as it officially launched its first-ever Asian Women Education Mentorship Program in Taipei on 8-11 August 2025.
Taiwan’s ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), hosted a seminar on August 9, 2025, that explored the shared challenges faced by Taiwan and the Philippines in safeguarding their democratic systems from authoritarian interference. The seminar was attended by youth
“We choose optimism not out of naivety, but out of conviction. We believe in progress, in people, and in the power of ideas to create real change. As liberals, we hold a simple but powerful belief: there is always a
The scorching Tokyo summer did little to dissuade Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) Chairperson Mardi Seng from making a crucial visit to Japan’s political heart. On July 23, Seng stood before a distinguished audience at the National Diet,
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” These words of French poet Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of the novel The Little Prince, still ring true today. And the Women’s Caucus of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD)
“It’s how we can create this community and movement in order to make learning a fun and exciting experience.” This is how CALD Youth Chairperson Jeremiah Tomas described his biggest takeaway from the IFLRY Training of Trainers 2025, a week-long
“Facilitation is the leadership skill of our time.” This is the rallying call of the Anew School of Facilitation, and rightly so. In this day and age of unparalleled complexity and uncertainty, leaders find themselves in situations when they have
Asia, Latin America and Europe are all facing the global menace of disinformation perpetuated by authoritarian countries, so it is about time for defenders of democracy and freedom from these three regions to learn from each other and fight back.
The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) convened a high-level roundtable discussion on 4 April in Taguig, Metro Manila to examine key political and electoral developments ahead of the 2025 Philippine midterm elections. The event brought together political leaders,
This 2025, the global political landscape remains uncertain. The aftermath of Donald Trump’s return to power has raised widespread concerns about the future of democracy in the US and beyond. In Asia, the outcomes of the elections in the Philippines
The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), a regional network of liberal and democratic political parties in Asia, is expressing grave concern on the deteriorating state of democracy and rule of law in Indonesia. This worrying development has commenced
From left to right: (top) CALD Youth chairperson Jeremiah Tomas, CALD Executive Director Celito Arlegue, School of Social Justice Founding Director Alvin Carpio, and WR Numero President and CEO Cleve V. Arguelles; (bottom) Professor Dr. Julio Teehankee, Friedrich Naumann Foundation
It is said that when women rise, their communities and countries rise with them. Guided by this belief, women from all over the Southeast and East Asia, including CALD Women’s Caucus Chair Jaslyn Go, and CALD Program Officer Chelse Racar
© Julio Teehankee “Poor institutional design can make the path easier for backsliders, while strong institutional design can strengthen the resistance of democracy.” This appears to be the main thesis of the report published by International IDEA in 2023 entitled
Even the largest typhoon since 1996 failed to stop Taiwan from hosting Southeast Asian civil society and stakeholders to discuss the issue of shrinking civic space in the region. Held on 31 October 2024, the Asia Citizen Future Week (ACFW)
“How equipped are Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in protecting human rights in the digital space?” This was the overarching question that Asia Centre attempted to answer in its “Digital Rights Programme for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs): Regional End-of-Programme Meeting” held
CALD Concludes Smart Mobility Project in Khon KaenInnovating and Partnering for the Future of Mobility and Transportation The recent CALD Smart Mobility Conference, held on 23-27 October in Bangkok and Khon Kaen, Thailand, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders
The high temperature of late summer matches the political heat in Tokyo, but it did not stop a group of political leaders from Southeast and East Asia from visiting the so-called “Land of the Rising Sun.” On 8-10 September 2024,
“It is indeed alarming that civic and democratic spaces have been shrinking over the years, but it’s even more daunting if we don’t act on it. We have to realize that the efforts of democratic forces, no matter how small,
The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) was represented by Program Officer Chelse Racar Caballero and Communication Officer Julienne Janolo-Faustino at the recent Female Leadership Program organized by the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) and Centerpartiets Internationella Stiftelse
“Securing the next generation of political Leaders” This has been the tagline of the recently concluded CALD Transformative Academy for Developing Empowered Leadership (CTADEL) held in Singapore on 1-6 August 2024. The training assembled around 30 women and youth leaders
It was touted as the largest gathering of lawmakers to visit Taiwan. With 49 lawmakers from 24 legislatures across five continents, the fourth Annual Summit of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) was indeed one of the most important international
“Trenggalek is on the right track. Smart mobility provides opportunities for bringing in the strength of the community towards inclusive progress in local governance,” said Francis “Blue” Abaya, secretary general of CALD and former member of parliament from the Philippines,
The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) was officially made an associate member of Asia Democracy Network (ADN) during the latter’s 4th General Assembly and 14th Governing Council Meeting. Held on 29-30 April in Jakarta, Indonesia, the events, which
“It was democracy’s finest moment.” This was how a delegation from the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) described the inauguration ceremonies for Taiwan’s president and vice president last 20 May 2024 in Taipei. “We bore witness to an
Photo by Philip Alexander Grzywaczyk CALD Program Officer, Chelse Racar Caballero attended an International Academy for Leadership (IAF) seminar on “Moderation: Facilitation and Program Design” last 14 – 26 April 2024 in Gummersbach, Germany. The seminar brought together program managers
“Thirty years of standing up for freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.” This, in essence, captures the three-decade history of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD). For CALD Secretary General Francis Abaya, CALD’s journey as
“Given the geographic size, geopolitical importance and economic clout of Asia, the way democracy flourishes or flounders in this part of the world will have significant implications for the future of democracy globally.” These were the concluding words of CALD
“The times call for cooperation, not for conflict or competition.” This was the key message in the panel discussion organized by the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) on 19 March 2024 in Seoul, South Korea as part of
With over 204 million voters, 820,000 voting precincts and 258,000 candidates, Indonesia’s recently concluded elections were considered the biggest single-day electoral exercise in the world. Last 14 February, the world’s third largest democracy held a 5-in-1 elections to choose its
On 10 December 2023, the United Nations celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This landmark document enshrines the inalienable rights for everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national
Violence against women, both online and offline, impacts negatively on women’s participation in politics and elections – and something must be done about it. This was the motivation behind the workshop organized by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) on
Today, 10 December 2023, the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) marks 30 years of unwavering commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Asia. However, amidst celebrations, CALD raises concerns over the recent allegations of
On 23-24 November 2023, the Municipality of San Mateo, led by Mayor Bartolome “Omie” N. Rivera, Jr., organized a workshop with the theme “Transforming Smart Mobility Ideas into Local Government Solutions” that is aimed towards assessing the transportation needs of
The Asia Democracy Network (ADN) marks its 10th anniversary this year with the largest gathering of Asian civil society activists and democracy supporters in Bangkok, Thailand last 20-22 November 2023. With over 200 participants from across the region, Asia Democracy
A party management workshop that was one for the books – made possible by a political party whose management practices deserve to be turned into a book. This, in essence, is how the recently concluded 8th Party Management Workshop hosted
“Panglao is endowed with stunning beaches, an incredible marine bio-diversity, exquisite corals and sea life, and a hard-to-discover school of tropical fish…Because of this, tourism serves as the foundation of our vibrant and progressive local economy and is indeed its
The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) is under new management. On the sidelines of the network’s 30th anniversary celebrations in Taipei Taiwan, CALD held its handover ceremonies on 10 September 2023 signifying the transfer of leadership from the
Most countries in Asia have periodic elections. Whether these elections are free and fair is another matter. More importantly, there is a question on whether these elections actually advance or impede democracy. With the aim of contributing to the discussion
Has the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) outlived its usefulness? This was the key question raised during the CALD Leaders’ Meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand on 23 August 2023. With the theme “CALD@30: Towards the Next Phase”, the
As part of the 30th anniversary celebration of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), an insightful Fireside Chat on the theme “Leadership in the Time of Democratic Recession” was held on 9 September 2023 at Great Skyview Taipei,
Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te, along with representatives and global partners of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), signed the Joint Declaration on the Current State and Future of Democracy in Asia. This significant occasion took place during
On 11 August, at the 21st floor of the Frassati Building of University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines, more than 200 Filipino youths listened to national youth leaders and liberal stalwarts who shared invaluable insights. More than 200 youths
“East Timor is a vibrant country, a hopeful nation that is considered the most democratic in Southeast Asia,” said CALD Chairperson Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, former Philippine Senator and incumbent Chairperson of the Liberal Party of the Philippines, during the three-day
“We therefore declare urban mobility as an essential public good.” This was the call of local government leaders and party members of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) from six countries expressed as they signed the Mobility For
Youth leaders from Asian countries embarked on a four-day event in Cavite, Philippines that seeks to enhance their leadership skills and explore the challenges and opportunities of digital democracy. From June 14 – 17, CALD Youth brought together aspiring young
It has been said that the rights that we enjoy offline should also be protected online. Freedom of expression, access to information, privacy, and association and assembly are fundamental rights that should be respected and promoted whether in the physical
It was described as “generation-defining” election. In a number of ways, it was. The recently concluded Thailand general election saw a record turnout exceeding 75% or around 39 million people. Of the registered voters, around 14.7% or 7.7 million people
2022 might be a breakthrough year in the global fight to defend democracy. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index 2022 shows that the number of “full democracies” increased to 24 in 2022 from 21 in 2021, while the number of
Elections are the bread-and-butter of political parties. Hence, when Buzzmaker, an award-winning political and public affairs consultancy firm based in the United States, offered to hold a series of online trainings on political campaigns, digital fundraising and field campaigning, the
It was a global gathering of democrats like no other, and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) was proud to be part of it. The 11th Global Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy (WMD) took place in
Why are parliamentarians and political party leaders being left behind when it comes to discussions on Business and Human Rights (BHR)? It has been more than a decade since the United Nations’ Human Rights Council (UN HRC) endorsed the “Guiding
ILOILO CITY – Asian Liberals and Democrats from eight countries in the region committed to advocate for truth-telling and protection on the last day of the two-day conference on building a democratic coalition against disinformation. At the 14th General Assembly
ILOILO CITY — All of society need to defend truth applying various weapons, according to various participants in the international conference here seeking to “build a democratic coalition against disinformation.” Phil Bennion, vice president of Liberal International, suggested that pro-truth
Political leaders, journalists, teachers, and artists from Asia will meet at the Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo on November 12-13 in a conference with the theme “building a democratic coalition against disinformation.” “Disinformation has divided people all over the world.
“It is at the level of the city – of the local governments in general – that the government is most felt by the people. For this reason, if we want to make immediate and substantive impact on the quality
To say that “freedom is not free” may appear to contradict the very nature of freedom, but this axiom is actually an accurate representation of the realities that many countries in the world confront. In East and Southeast Asia, for
It was a trip to Europe during turbulent times, but it was certainly worth it. A delegation from the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) travelled to the European continent to take part in the 75th Liberal International (LI)
“Are we sometimes confusing popular with populist?” This was the question posed by Sir Graham Watson, former leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), as Asian and European Liberals debated the issue of populism in their
Held on the sidelines of the 75th Anniversary Congress of Liberal International, CLP’s membership application was unanimously approved by the CALD leadership during its 45th Executive Committee Meeting. The CLP was previously a member of CALD, but has since evolved
By Sam Rainsy The first results of the commune elections of June 5 show that a people’s desire for change can’t be wiped out at the stroke of a pen. After the arbitrary dissolution in 2017 of the Cambodia National
“….several priorities [were identified] for national policy in the upcoming [Cambodian] elections. These include Covid-19 Response, Job Creation, Social Protection for the Poor and Elderly, Youth Employment, Improving Access to Public Services and Agricultural Markets, Strengthening Law Enforcements, Promoting Technology,
As of 2021, about 81% of the Philippine population is on Facebook. A large number of youth voters can be partially accredited to social media as information is easily accessible and readily available on the internet, leading many to take
“The key is moving people, not vehicles. Efficient and effective public transport must be at the backbone of the transport system,” said Dr. Segundo Romero, Director of Innovation at the Base of the Pyramid in Southeast Asia (iBop Asia) Program
“If we don’t build resilience in terms of governance, in terms of rule of law and human rights-centered approach, we are basically going to be the equivalent of, in the history books, ‘the fall of the Roman empire’,” said ALTSEAN
The year 2021 was supposed to be a year of recovery – of our bodies and our body politic –from the onslaught of the pandemic and of populist authoritarianism, respectively. The availability and growing access to COVID-19 vaccines, coupled with
“Government is best when it’s closest to the people…being with people immerses one with the real and pressing problems on the ground. One gets a sense, firsthand, of what’s relevant and important,” said Lito Arlegue, CALD Executive Director, during the
Danish American social reformer Jacob Riis once said: “When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at
Winning the [political] academy JAKARTA, INDONESIA — After the success of the celebrated pilot event of the CALD Youth Political Academy (CYPA) that was held in Hong Kong last March 2017, CALD Youth concludes a yet another event not just
GUMMERSBACH, GERMANY — On 15-21 September 2017, liberal youth leaders from across the globe gathered at the Theodor Heuss Academy of the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung Foundation for the International Federation of Liberal Youth or IFLRY’s second series of the Training of Trainers (TOT). Participants
“How can we say to any country in the world that it is not ready for democracy? Who are we to say that? How can we say that we are entitled to democracy and not you? Let the people of every
Bali is known for its quaint, pristine beaches complemented by its mystical culture and the warm hospitality of its people. It is the ideal place for 30 liberal youth delegates from 12 countries to convene and discuss climate change advocacy, the power
On 14-17 April 2016, the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) held its 39th General Assembly (GA) in Istanbul, Turkey. More than 80 participants from nearly 30 countries were present to convene for the GA and for a conference with the
In a few but very special occasions like the COP21, all nations convened for an inclusive, futuristic, and historic agreement that would not just benefit this generation, but the next. Last 30 November to 11 December 2015, UN member countries,
Ms. Bulgan Bayasgalant of the Civil Will Green Party, newly elected Chair of the CALD Youth. Representatives from the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats youth wing (CALD Youth) convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 25 April 2015 for the
The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) marked another milestone in its history with the creation of CALD Youth in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Delegates to a youth workshop which took place from 17 to 21 August 2010 unanimously agreed that
