Delegates and speakers attending the 2d South East Asia Media Defense Litigation Conference in Cebu, Philippines, 27-29 October 2009

CEBU CITY, Philippines — More than 100 lawyers, advocates, academics and others attended the 2d South East Asia Media Defense Litigation Conference October 27-29, 2009.

Harry Roque, program host, Center for International Law (left); H.R. Dipendra, South East Asia Media Legal Defense Network Coordinator, and Ed Lingao, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism discussed Freedom of Information initiatives in South East Asia

Australian barrister Tim Robertson (far left) moderated panel on the legal threats faced by bloggers in Asia

In a panel on lobbying legislators and governments, Hoi Trinh (standing) discussed the limited options available for advocates in Vietnam; Cambodia lawmaker Yim Sovann (right) introduced the initiative for South East Asia Legislators Caucus for Rights and Free Expression

Crown Regency Hotel & Tower – Fuente Osmena, Cebu City, Philippines

The Center for International Law, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and the Konrad Adenauer Stifung (KAS) are organizing the 2d South East Asia Media Defense Litigation Conference.

The conference is designed to allow lawyers and media practitioners from South East Asia to share their experiences on legal threats to freedom of speech and of the press and to formulate new legal strategies responsive to the current situations in their respective countries.

The upcoming conference is expected to draw participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and East Timor. In addition to participants and experts from within the region, speakers will include experts from U.S., U.K., Germany, Australia and elsewhere.

The conference aims to build on the previous conference held 21-23 May 2007 in Hong Kong.

Founded in 2007, the South East Asia Media Legal Defense Network is the first regional network of lawyers dedicated to the defense of a free media in South East Asia and the training of legal professionals for that purpose.

The South East Asia Media Legal Defense Network consists of lawyers and media advocates from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.