"The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by the five original Member Countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, 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. In principle, ASEAN supports poverty reduction, food security, sustainable development, and greater equity in the ASEAN region. However, a closer look at the pronouncements contained in its policy documents reveals that an economically-driven framework of growth still drives the work of ASEAN, even as it strives to create ?caring societies”. While the organization does have a policy of engaging NGOs, it is not clear how NGOs could participate meaningfully in providing direction for ASEAN?s work. This requires clarification on the part of ASEAN. This issue brief argues that before ASEAN could engage in meaningful dialogue with NGOs, it will first have to grapple with a number of issues, namely, (1) food security for farmers that likewise promotes poverty eradication and rural development; (2) property rights as a fundamental human right of farmers; (3) ensuring justice in poverty eradication and rural development efforts; and (4) economic growth as a precursor for social development. The key structures in the ASEAN that need to be engaged are the following: the ASEAN Summit; the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community; the ASEAN Ministers on Poverty Eradication and Rural Development; Senior Ministers on Poverty Eradication and Rural Development; Functional Cooperation Bodies (e.g. Poverty Eradication; Social Development); the ASEAN-Japan Dialogue; Issue Brief 2 Engaging the ASEAN: Toward a Regional Advocacy on Land Rights1 the ASEAN?Australia Dialogue; Advisory Groups to ASEAN; and the ASEAN Development Fund. At the end of this issue brief, practical steps and talking points for engaging the abovementioned structures in ASEAN are presented..."