In Asia and the Pacific there has been a decline in democracy, with freedoms of speech, press and association coming under threat (International IDEA, 2023). Several factors are contributing to this decline in democratic values and freedoms in the region:

• Authoritarian Resurgence: Some countries in Asia and the Pacific have witnessed a strengthening of authoritarian rule, where leaders consolidate power, often at the expense of democratic institutions and principles.
• Legal and Extralegal Measures: Governments in the region have increasingly used a combination of legal and extralegal measures to suppress dissent and limit the freedoms of speech, press, and association.