During Thailand’s chairmanship of ASEAN (July 2008-Dec 2009), various activities have been implemented to promote people’s participation in the ASEAN community building process and to raise people’s awareness of ASEAN.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by the five original Member Countries - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined on 8 January 1984, Vietnam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, bringing the total to 10 member states.

Thailand assumed the rotating ASEAN Chairmanship on 24 July 2008, with the aim of giving priority to materializing the spirit and values contained in the ASEAN Charter. Thailand’s actions can be summarized by the three Rs:

Realizing - the commitments under the ASEAN Charter.

Revitalizing - a people-centered community.

Reinforcing - human development and security for all the peoples of the region.

During Thailand’s ASEAN Chair, priority has been given to the establishment and implementation of new ASEAN organs envisaged in the ASEAN Charter, in particular the establishment of ASEAN Human Rights bodies.