ASEAN [to18 October 2014]
http://www.asean.org/news

ASEAN Commits to Biodiversity Conservation
PYEONGCHANG, 17 October 2014 – The environment ministers of the ten ASEAN Member States reiterated their countries’ commitment to biodiversity conservation in a statement read at the ongoing Twelfth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The statement was read by Dr. Thet Thet Zin, Deputy Union Minister, Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Working Together towards Rabies-free ASEAN
16 October 2014HA NOI, 15 October 2014 – In accordance with the recent global observance of the World Rabies Day on 28 September, ASEAN demonstrated its continued support in accelerating the goal of a “Rabies-free ASEAN by 2020” through the endorsement of the ASEAN Rabies Elimination Strategy (ARES). This document was jointly endorsed by the 36th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) and the 12th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM) that were respectively held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar and Ha Noi, Viet Nam.
This joint endorsement of ARES is clearly a manifestation of ASEAN’s resolve and commitment for the elimination of rabies, which is a widespread, neglected and under-reported zoonosis with an almost 100% case fatality rate in animals and humans. This disease causes a significant social and economic burden in many countries worldwide. Every year, between 50,000 and 70,000 people die of rabies in various conditions. The majority of rabies cases globally occur among children.

ASEAN Enhances Mobility of Skilled Labour through Qualifications Reference Framework
13 October 2014
MANILA, 13 October 2014 – Following endorsement of the ASEAN Qualification Reference Framework (AQRF) by the ASEAN Economic Ministers and the ASEAN Education Ministers in August and September 2014, respectively, the Task Force on AQRF met in Manila last week to progress the discussion of the AQRF implementation.
AQRF, a common reference framework, functions as a device to enable comparisons of qualifications of skilled labour across ASEAN Member States. The framework, among others, supports recognition of qualification, promote quality of education and learning, and facilitate labour mobility. It addresses all education and training, including formal, non-formal and informal learning. Noting that ASEAN Member States are at different stages of development, each country is expected to voluntarily comply with the AQRF at their own capacity and start the referencing process by 2016 and at the latest by 2018.

ASEAN focuses on ‘resilience’ during Day for Disaster Management
12 October 2014.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 12 October 2014 – Focusing on the theme “Peoples of ASEAN, Step Up and Be Counted for Community Disaster Resilience! Resilience is for Life!” ASEANculminates itscommemoration of the ASEAN Day for Disaster Management (ADDM) with regional ceremonies hosted today by the Government of Brunei Darussalam.
The Director of Brunei Darussalam’s National Disaster Management Centre and Chair of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management, Pg Dato Paduka Hj Rosli Bin Pg Hj Chuchu, said in his welcome remarks that it is important for “communities to realise their role in increasing their resilience to disasters as frontliners in disaster response as well as in the long-term recovery and rehabilitation efforts. By equipping them with the right knowledge, communities can step up and take the lead in promoting community-based activities in disaster risk reduction and raise their level of awareness and engagement.”