ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children
The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, the Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam;
In 2015, when the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence against Women (RPA on EVAW 2016 – 2025) was adopted, ASEAN Member States had seen progress in addressing violence against women. National laws and action plans had been dedicated to the issue, and resources were allocated to implement these frameworks. Shelters, hotlines, and other support services were strengthened for survivors of violence, and data on violence against women were collected and analysed for evidence-based policies and services.
The ASEAN ICT Forum on Online Child Protection, held under the leadership of ACWC Indonesia and Thailand, and co-organized by the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (MOWECP) and the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (MICT) of Indonesia, was convened successfully from 25—27 September 2024 in Bali, Indonesia. The forum, held under the leadership of Indonesia and Thailand with support from UNICEF, the Australian Government, and various partners, gathered over 200 participants, including representatives from ASEAN member states, regional sectoral bodies, development partners, and major ICT companies. Youth representatives from Child Fund and Save the Children were also present.
The Forum, an essential part of implementing the ACWC Work Plan 2021-2025, addressed ASEAN’s commitments under the Regional Plan of Action for the Protection of Children from All Forms of Online Exploitation and Abuse (COEA). Participants engaged in discussions covering topics such as generative AI’s impact on online protection, tools for combating future online threats, and holistic approaches to digital rights and child safety. The discussions highlighted the need for future-proofing child protection against emerging technologies, including AI and virtual reality, which could facilitate gender-based violence and other forms of online abuse.
The forum concluded with key recommendations, including priority-setting for ASEAN’s mid-term review of the ASEAN RPA on COEA and proposed initiatives to strengthen policy frameworks. Participants also supported linking regional and global efforts to eliminate violence against children.
New York/Bangkok, 27 September 2024 — The new ASEAN Gender Outlook 2024, presented today at the United Nations General Assembly, showcases new gender data across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It reveals that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States have made tremendous strides towards several SDGs – decreasing poverty, food insecurity, school abandonment, violent crime and the use of unclean fuels – yet climate change and environmental degradation are still substantially affecting women and girls. Given the intensified consequences of climate change, more efforts are needed to address these impacts.
Poverty in East and Southeast Asia has dropped 10-fold over the past 20 years – more progress than in any other region – yet women in Southeast Asia remain more likely than men to be poor, particularly in their peak reproductive ages (2.66 million women vs. 2.31 million men). If climate change continues to worsen, an estimated 2.5 million more people will be pushed into poverty by 2030.
Despite substantial regional reductions in food insecurity over the past decade, an estimated 17% of women and 16% of men do not eat enough nutritious food, and 38% of pregnant women have anaemia. Unsustainable farming practices, land transition and overreliance on cash crops, are projected to impact millions, particularly women and girls, who are more vulnerable to food insecurity.
Women’s political participation is increasing, reaching an all-time high of 23% in parliaments across the region, yet they remain underrepresented in key environmental ministries. Expanding women’s roles in decision-making in all sectors is crucial to creating inclusive solutions to manage disease spread, build farmer resilience, reduce unpaid work burdens and ensure ecosystem health.
Despite substantial strides towards universal access to clean drinking water, women are more likely than men to die from consuming unsafe water sources across the region. For example, in Indonesia women comprise 29% of deaths associated with unsafe water sources, compared to 25% of men; while the rates are 23% for women vs. 18% for men in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
Data reveal the gendered impacts of increased droughts, unpredictable rains and rising temperatures, which correlate with higher rates of child marriage, adolescent births and barriers to accessing clean drinking water and cooking fuels, disproportionately affecting women’s unpaid work. Climate plans and policies must be gender-sensitive, but currently, only three countries’ are.
The health of ASEAN oceans is in jeopardy, with high concentrations of algal blooms and extensive beach litter. Destructive fishing practices and overfishing threaten marine biodiversity and fish stocks, with significant economic costs impacting human health, tourism and the livelihoods of small-scale fishing folk, especially women, who are often unable to change harvest areas or gear to adapt.
Rapid deforestation rates continue in the region, with significant forest loss recorded in 2023, particularly in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Indonesia, Viet Nam and Thailand, equivalent to massive carbon dioxide emissions. This deforestation has disproportionate impacts on women, correlating with increased malaria spread that exacerbate women’s unpaid care work.
Although violent crime is low and the region is one of the world’s safest, 22% of women vs. 18% of men feel less safe than five years ago. Among the poorest women, this rate rises to 25%. Women’s participation in security and peacekeeping has the potential to enhance safety, yet women account for less than 20% of peacekeepers contributed by all countries in the ASEAN region.
Currently, 47% of Official Development Assistance in the region targets gender. But increased investment in collecting, analysing and using gender data across all SDGs, including traditionally gender-neutral areas like environment statistics, is necessary. With just six years to go to achieve the 2030 Agenda, continuous investment in gender equality is vital.
The ASEAN Gender Outlook 2024 underscores the importance of gender equality for sustainable development to ensure no one is left behind.
The report was launched on 10 September 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Women, Malaysia. The publication is jointly produced by the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW), led by Malaysia as the Chair of ACW, ASEAN Secretariat and UN Women. The launching ceremony was attended by Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Socio-Cultural Community; Jamshed Kazi, Senior Advisor and Liaison to ASEAN, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific; along with the representatives of ACW, ASEAN Commission on the Promotion of the Rights of Women and Children as well as other ASEAN Sectoral Bodies. As regional lead on the SDGs in ASEAN, the Government of Thailand organized and coordinated the high-level launch of this report at the UN General Assembly.
For more information on the report: https://data.unwomen.org/publications/asean-gender-outlook-2024
H.E. Mr. Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community commented: “The Second Edition of ASEAN Gender Outlook is dedicated to track progress towards gender equality and SDGs in the ASEAN region. It further advocates for enhanced investment in gender data and evidence, which is critical to guide decision-making policies. This approach ensures that policy responses are comprehensive and inclusive, particularly addressing the needs of women and girls, particularly those from the most vulnerable and marginalised communities in the region.”
H.E. Ms. Penny Wong, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia commented: “Investing in gender equality is an investment in peace, security and prosperity. The ASEAN Gender Outlook provides essential data to inform regional policy. Data impacts our decisions about how best to respond, and with better data, we can count women in.”
H.E. Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR commented: “ASEAN has consistently mobilized high-level political commitment to advance gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls in the region. Such priority is seen in the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and its complementarities with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Being the ASEAN Chair this year, Lao PDR remains committed to making concrete contributions to the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment which is one of the key priorities, and the cross-cutting priority for achieving the SDGs.”
Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Women, Malaysia commented: “The Second Edition of the ASEAN Gender Outlook is a call to action. Integrating gender perspectives into every facet of our development agenda is not only essential but urgent, as we work towards realizing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and shaping the Strategic Plans beyond 2025. The insights from this outlook should ignite real, transformative change across ASEAN, driving us toward a more inclusive future.”
H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand commented: “Gender equality and women empowerment are also central to the ASEAN Community Vision. As we move ahead, we should empower a new generation of women leaders. Let me highlight three key areas where women can make a difference and contribute to a more future-ready and sustainable world: climate action and disaster response; digital transformation; and global supply chains.”
Sima Bahous, UN Women Executive Director commented: “The second ASEAN Gender Outlook underscores the need to advance progress towards the SDGs, including by improving gender data on key issues for the region. Today’s report shows that gains have been made and progress is within reach, but it must be accelerated. We must keep advancing gender equality to honour the commitments made at the Beijing Declaration nearly 30 years ago, and the 2030 Agenda. Let’s work together to break down the barriers facing women and girls and turn gender equality from a goal into reality.”
For media inquiries:
Montira Narkvichien, Regional Communications Specialist, UN Women Asia and the Pacific | montira.narkvichien@unwomen.org
Check the official press release here: ASEAN Member States issue guidelines for coordinated response to violence against women and girls – ASEAN Main Portal
Vientiane, 22 August 2024 – In a significant stride towards addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG), in Southeast Asia, the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) launched the “ASEAN Guidelines for Developing National Standard Operating Procedures for a Coordinated Response to Violence against Women and Girls.”
Taking place in Vientiane, Lao PDR, during the ASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit 2024, the launch marks a historic moment in ASEAN’s commitment to combating VAWG.
Violence against women and girls is a grave violation of human rights, rooted in deeply entrenched gender biases, inequality, and harmful practices. The repercussions of such violence extend beyond individual survivors, impacting their health, education, income, and opportunities. It harms family, communities, and entire societies, hindering social and economic development and obstructing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Addressing VAWG requires urgent and coordinated action. ASEAN Member States have demonstrated a firm commitment to this issue, recognizing the necessity of coordinated responses,” said H.E. Ekkaphab
Phanthavong, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. “The launch of these regional guidelines is a crucial step forward in ASEAN’s work to end all forms of violence against women and girls as a regional priority by ensuring a coordinated standard operating procedure, we are taking a decisive and collective action. towards a safer and more equitable future for all.”
“Through the implementation of these guidelines, ASEAN strengthens rights-based, gender-responsive, and inclusive approaches in responding to violence against women and girls which are necessary to raise performance standards for handling of VAWG cases, especially for women and children in multiple risks and vulnerabilities, including persons with disabilities said H.E. Dr. Ratchada Jayagupta, Representative of Thailand to the ACWC.
Christine Arab, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, remarked, “This initiative by ASEAN is crucial to ensure a whole-of-community and survivor-centred approach for addressing violence against women and girls. Reflecting the region’s commitment to gender equality and the protection of women’s rights, this initiative will move us closer to achieving the SDGs. UN Women is a proud partner in supporting the development of the guidelines and their implementation.”
H.E. Sujiro Seam, EU Ambassador to ASEAN, said “The European Union stands in solidarity with ASEAN in combating violence against women and girls as well as empowering women and girls across the region. These ASEAN Guidelines is a key step in our joint efforts to ensure that survivors can receive comprehensive support they need through effective coordinated responses.”
The Guidelines are designed to be an essential resource for policymakers, practitioners, and frontline service providers. It provides a comprehensive framework for nationally coordinated SOPs and performance standards, ensuring that responses to VAWG are both gender-sensitive and survivor-centered. They emphasise the need for a coordinated response across multiple sectors, including health, police, justice, and social services.
By advocating for intersectoral collaboration and alignment, the guidelines ensure that responses to VAWG are unified and focused on the well-being of survivors. This effort is guided by the ASEAN’s commitments under the Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (ASEAN RPA on EVAW) and ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence Against Children (ASEAN RPA on EVAC).
The development of the Guidelines was led and provided technical contributions by the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW), with the support from the ASEAN Secretariat, and in collaboration with the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) and ASEAN Member States, funded by European Union.
The preparation of the guidelines was supported through the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls, within the programme “Safe and Fair: Realizing women migrant workers’ rights and opportunities in the ASEAN region” (Safe and Fair). The roll-out of the guidelines will be furthersupported by the EU-funded “PROTECT” project implemented by ILO, UN Women, UNICEF and UNODC.
The 8th ASEAN Children’s Forum, held from August 19-21, 2024, in Vientiane, Lao PDR, brought together over 100 participants, including child delegates from all ten ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste. Under the theme “Children-led Climate Change Actions Towards a Resilient ASEAN Community,” the Forum provided a vital platform for children to express their concerns and recommendations on climate change impacts, reinforcing their role as key stakeholders in shaping a sustainable future.
Hosted with the support of UNICEF, CRC Asia, World Vision, and the ASEAN Secretariat, the Forum emphasized the urgent need to address climate change from the perspective of children, who are among the most vulnerable during disasters. Delegates engaged in meaningful discussions on critical issues such as food security, migration, child protection, and education, highlighting the intrinsic link between environmental challenges and children’s rights.
Delegates shared creative presentations and participated in interactive group discussions as well as an intergenerational dialogue with representatives from ACWC and the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (SOMSWD), outlining concrete actions children can take with support from families, educational institutions, and governments. The children delegates emphasized the urgent need for educational continuity and resilience strategies to mitigate the long-term effects of climate- related disasters.
The Forum culminated in the development of actionable recommendations aimed at enhancing climate change actions within the ASEAN framework, which will be submitted to relevant ASEAN bodies for consideration.
The ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), in partnership with Indonesia’s Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (MoWECP) and ECPAT Indonesia, successfully convened the ASEAN Conference on the Prevention and Response to the Misuse of Financial Service Providers in Child Sexual Exploitation on 7-8 August 2024 in Bali, Indonesia.
Attended by 150 participants, including representatives from ASEAN member states, international organizations, and financial institutions, the conference aimed to address the increasing misuse of financial services in facilitating sexual exploitation crimes. The conference provided a vital platform for stakeholders to exchange insights and propose strategic recommendations. Participants discussed the critical role of technology in the financial sector and its implications for child safety, emphasizing the need for intersectoral collaboration among financial institutions, law enforcement, and civil society organizations.
Key recommendations emerging from the discussions included strengthening national laws to align with global frameworks, enhancing detection and reporting mechanisms for financial misuse in child exploitation, and empowering children as active participants in their own protection.
The ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), under the leadership of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand, successfully convened the Regional Learning Forum on Gender-Responsive Budgeting and Child Rights Approach to Public Budgeting on 13-14 May in the Philippines. The event was held in partnership with the Child Rights Coalition Asia (CRC Asia) and supported by Plan International and Save the Children.
The session gathered 53 participants from across the region, including ACWC representatives, ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, civil society organizations, and UN agencies. Participants engaged in critical discussions reflecting on global and regional commitments to public financing guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Key highlights of the session included a focus on gender-responsive and child-friendly budgeting, emphasizing that effective public budget allocations must ensure equitable resource distribution for all. The event showcased successful public budgeting tools from various ASEAN Member States.
Challenges such as limited gender statistics and competing budget priorities were identified, alongside opportunities to enhance public financing strategies for women and children. The session concluded with interactive discussions and recommendations aimed at advancing the regional agenda on public budgeting. The insights gathered will be further refined and submitted to the ACWC for consideration, helping to inform the next phases of this crucial project.
Trafficking should be generally defined in accordance with the international legal definition as affirmed in the ASEAN Convention against Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children and, as far as possible, concepts within that definition that are not otherwise defined in national law should be clarified. Trafficking acts conducted by legal persons should be criminalised, as should an appropriate range of related and ancillary offences.
This chapter seeks to ascertain how trafficking is defined and criminalised in national law and, as an extension of this, how the concept is understood and applied in practice across AMS. For example, are legal definitions of “trafficking” confined to women and children or do they extend to include men as well? Do they include or cover the full range of exploitative purposes set out in international law, such as forced labour?
This study seeks to better understand linkages between economic integration and gender disparities in the ASEAN region. It identifies the mechanisms through which ASEAN economic integration may create opportunities for accelerating gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in the region. It also identify challenges that may prevent women from taking advantage of these newly created opportunities. The study was jointly commissioned by the ASEAN Secretariat, the UN Women Regional Office for Asia, and the Pacific and the Friedrich- Ebert-Stiftung (FES), with support from the Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The lessons from this study will be of use to policy makers trade negotiators, private stakeholders and the general public, at the national and regional levels. Recommendations are provided at the regional level to better integrate a gender inclusive approach in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) post-2015 and for Member States to address gender inequalities in key ASEAN priority sectors.