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While global health governance mechanisms have been studied extensively, little research has been conducted on the factors that fundamentally shape and constrain international health policy-making or on the norms and values that influence or define global health politics. The political and economic emergence of several nations has been challenging the ways health policies and programs are designed and implemented, but also the fundamental values that underpin such policies.In light of unstructured Global Health Governance, increasing attention has been devoted to regions as health actors. In fast-developing Southeast Asia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has become one of the most prominent actors in health and could potentially act as a platform for different stakeholders in health, fostering a convergence of interests, norms and values. This paper looks at the norms that shape and constrain health-policy making in Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on the growing role of the third sector in norm diffusion despite little political integration at regional level. Health issues provide a vantage point to analyse the changing nature of relations and governance frameworks as well as the emergence of new norms through civil society movements in Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Association of South East Asian Nations ( ASEAN) has potential in creating regional health governance frameworks. Yet in light of the ASEAN Economic Community 2015, pressing challenges remain. Further integration will likely lead to increased movements of migrants. Protecting the health of migrant workers is thus key to ensure that regional integration's objectives of economic growth and political stability are met. With the potentially negative repercussions of unhealthy migration on ASEAN's economic and political integration, much effort should be directed towards further social integration. Why and how should a regional framework to protect migrant workers' health be negotiated through ASEAN? A key to the successful ASEAN regional framework for migrant workers' health, which is also a key challenge for the region, is the effective inclusion of various stakeholders involved in the protection of migrant workers' health. ASEAN will play a crucial role in coordinating initiatives and in creating common standards regarding treatment of migrant workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]