A consultation conference to improve the capacity of the network of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) in the northern region of Vietnam was held in Quang Ninh province on June 17.

The conference, co-organised by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Welfare and the United Nations Women (UN Women), is part of ACWC’s 2013 national-scale activities in Vietnam.

The participants, including a representative from the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and domestic and international delegates, discussed the updated information on the awareness enhancement of the rights of women and children in the region and the world.

They also shared news on ACWC’s plans, ASEAN’s human rights issues, equality best practices for women and children in education and healthcare, and the role of ACWC and other organisations in protecting women and children.

At the conference, delegates presented their opinions to help develop ASEAN’s draft declaration on the prevention of violence against women and children and ACWC’s terms of reference in Vietnam.

ACWC has had 20 representatives of women and children’s rights in the 10 member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). To date, it has organised seven meetings to define its operation principles, fields and priorities from 2012-2016. ACWC has organised regional and national-scale talks and consultations among stakeholders.-VNA