ABSTRACT
The role of non-state actors in Asia has become more significant with the emergence of a number of civil society organizations (CSOs) that are actively engaging in state and regional processes in defining and crafting policies. Within the context of national and regional advocacy for or against issues that have direct implications on human security, CSOs have become important actors because their participation affects multi-level responses to often-complex development and security challenges. Toward the broader objective of improving the welfare and well-being of societies, enhancing accountability and policy effectiveness, CSO participation is deemed to be a key component in instituting a sense of multi-level governance on critical human security challenges.
