Numerous protests are expected to draw attention to human rights violations in South East Asia as the eyes of the world fix on Sydney for the ASEAN summit.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will host South East Asian leaders on Saturday and Sunday for a special summit to discuss regional security, economic ties and counter-terrorism measures.
But at least three groups of protesters have mobilised in response to the summit.
Amnesty International will host a demonstration on a boat near Barangaroo on Friday morning to draw attention to the plight of Rohingya people in Myanmar who have fled ethnic cleansing.
"ASEAN has been shamefully silent on what is happening in one of its member states so far," the advocacy group said in a statement earlier this week.
Another community group will also gather for the Rohingya in Hyde Park on Saturday.
Hundreds of Australian-Cambodians and supporters will also protest on Friday against the rule of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is attending the summit.
Cambodia has shifted towards authoritarianism following last year's ban on the main opposition party, the arrest of opposition leader Kem Sokha and forced closure of an English-language newspaper.
