CARITAS ASIA REGIONAL CONFERENCE and PARTNERS' FORUM(12-14June)

The 2017 Caritas Asia Regional Conference Week was held from the 12th until the 17th of June at Windsor Hotel in Bangkok; the week was divided into three events - the Regional Partners' Forum and the CA Regional Conference, the CRS/CA leadership training and the PEACH program midterm review. For this occasion, all the participants of different Asian, European or African Caritas got together and discussed about the following theme: “ Integral Human Development: The Caritas Network in Asia for Justice”.

The Regional Partners' Forum consisted of exhibitions and presentations with first a reminder of the role of Caritas Asia in the Integral Human Development. The course of the forum was then given rhythm between the presentation to the Asian and Global partners of the strategic priorities according to the new 2017-2020 Strategic Plan and some presentations about on-going programs that participate in the development of capacities of the different Caritas as well as local communities across Asia. These on-going projects are either about raising awareness on anti-trafficking action or strengthening capacities on Humanitarian Aid; but also about strengthening adaptive farming or developing catholic social teaching in the different sub regions. All of these activities always being in accordance with Caritas vision and values as well as in achievement of the several priorities of the new Strategic Plan. 

The Caritas Asia Regional Conference, which is the annual statutory session of all the 24 Caritas member organizations in Asia, included the usual statutory sessions concerning the region, such as the distribution of the 2017 CA and CI structural and statutory fees. The highlight of this event was the ratification of the new Regional Strategic Plan 2017-2020 and its Operational Plan as well as the ratification of the Amendment of the CA Regional Statutes. After the evaluation of the CI management standards, the Conference ended with the approval of the Asian Caritas family on the way forward in Asia for the next 4 years.