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Engagement with civil-society groups is something new within the Asean context. For the past four decades, Asean leaders made all the decisions without exception. But the notion that the grouping's leaders know best has been challenged by the dynamism in the region and the fast-changing world. Trans-national issues - including collective measures on counter-terrorism, human smuggling, narcotics, contagious diseases and others - need the cooperation of ordinary people in order for policy to be effectively implemented.

Asean-based civil-society groups have learned a great deal about Asean. After a longstanding rejection of anything Asean, they have begun to engage the grouping's bureaucrats. The drafting of the Asean Charter was a learning process for most non-governmental organisations in the area. They learned about the grouping's limitations and its potential. In the three years since the first dialogue between Asean and civil-society groups began in Kuala Lumpur in 2005, the non-governmental sector has learned about how to be more practical with Asean.

The litmus test will come in the next few months, when civil-society groups challenge the High Level Panel on Asean Human Rights to come up with acceptable norms and standards on human rights. Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand have been slow to ratify the charter because of people within these countries saying that it should be more people-centred. As such, the future drafting of terms of reference will see the inclusion of more vigorous voices from Asean civil-society groups. To do that, they have to do their homework through increased consultation among themselves. They have to speak with one voice and form common positions. This is the only way to effectively challenge the Asean drafters on human rights.