Jakarta (VNA) – The Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN) on March 8 launched the ASEAN Regional Study on Women,Peace and Security which presents evidence-based recommendations to supportmember states in enhancing women’s meaningful participation in peacebuildingand conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict processes, in line withregional and international commitments.
The study is a collaboration between ASEAN, the UnitedStates (US) government through the US Agency for International Development(USAID), and UN Women.
In remarks at the launch ceremony, ASEANSecretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi said: “To commemorate International Women’sDay 2021, we are pleased to share this first regional study on Women, Peace andSecurity in ASEAN to reaffirm our commitment to gender equality, women’sleadership, and its integration into the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Frameworkand the ASEAN Vision post 2025.”
“This study establishes a solid evidence base to guideour efforts in advancing the Joint Statement on Promoting Women, Peace andSecurity in ASEAN in the years ahead,” he emphasized.
Led jointly by the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) and theASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women andChildren (ACWC), the study was conducted throughout 2020 with support fromUSAID through the PROSPECT project, ASEAN Secretariat and UN Women.
The main objective, as explained by Dr. Ha Thi Minh Duc,a member of the Advisory Group coordinating the study, was to move from“recognition” of the importance of women’s participation in peacebuilding,conflict prevention, and conflict resolution to its “realisation” in theregion, where conflict and security challenges vary widely across memberstates.
The resulting Regional Study takes stock of progress andchallenges across member states, consolidates lessons learned, and proposes acommon understanding and concrete recommendations for ASEAN stakeholders onWPS.
During the virtual launch ceremony, ASEAN Member Staterepresentatives took note of the study’s findings and recommendations andproposed working toward the formulation of a multi-sectoral Regional Plan ofAction to implement the Women, Peace and Security agenda. The UN and ASEANdialogue partners, including Australia, Canada, and the US supported theproposal and committed to assist ASEAN with future coordination and capacitybuilding initiatives.
Congratulating ASEAN for the achievement, Melissa A.Brown, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of the U.S. Mission to ASEAN, remarked: “Notonly does this study serve as a comprehensive resource for ASEAN, it is also apromising step that underscores ASEAN’s unwavering commitment to the WPSagenda.”
“Alongside ASEAN, the UN, and other partners here, the USlooks forward to continuing our collaboration to promote and strengthen women’smeaningful participation in peacekeeping efforts, security cooperation, and allpeace and security decision-making processes across the region.”
Mohammad Naciri, Regional Director of UN Women RegionalOffice for Asia and the Pacific said: “Advancing WPS agenda in ASEAN is evenmore relevant in the COVID-19 response and recovery in the region.”
“The pandemic is a conflict multiplier and presents athreat to international peace and security. Women play a critical role inconflict prevention, resolution and recovery. WPS highlights the importance ofgender-responsive policy to address the impact of COVID-19 and to ensuremeaningful empowerment of women in the region. UN Women is committed to supportASEAN in this effort.”/.
The study is a collaboration between ASEAN, the UnitedStates (US) government through the US Agency for International Development(USAID), and UN Women.
In remarks at the launch ceremony, ASEANSecretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi said: “To commemorate International Women’sDay 2021, we are pleased to share this first regional study on Women, Peace andSecurity in ASEAN to reaffirm our commitment to gender equality, women’sleadership, and its integration into the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Frameworkand the ASEAN Vision post 2025.”
“This study establishes a solid evidence base to guideour efforts in advancing the Joint Statement on Promoting Women, Peace andSecurity in ASEAN in the years ahead,” he emphasized.
Led jointly by the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) and theASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women andChildren (ACWC), the study was conducted throughout 2020 with support fromUSAID through the PROSPECT project, ASEAN Secretariat and UN Women.
The main objective, as explained by Dr. Ha Thi Minh Duc,a member of the Advisory Group coordinating the study, was to move from“recognition” of the importance of women’s participation in peacebuilding,conflict prevention, and conflict resolution to its “realisation” in theregion, where conflict and security challenges vary widely across memberstates.
The resulting Regional Study takes stock of progress andchallenges across member states, consolidates lessons learned, and proposes acommon understanding and concrete recommendations for ASEAN stakeholders onWPS.
During the virtual launch ceremony, ASEAN Member Staterepresentatives took note of the study’s findings and recommendations andproposed working toward the formulation of a multi-sectoral Regional Plan ofAction to implement the Women, Peace and Security agenda. The UN and ASEANdialogue partners, including Australia, Canada, and the US supported theproposal and committed to assist ASEAN with future coordination and capacitybuilding initiatives.
Congratulating ASEAN for the achievement, Melissa A.Brown, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of the U.S. Mission to ASEAN, remarked: “Notonly does this study serve as a comprehensive resource for ASEAN, it is also apromising step that underscores ASEAN’s unwavering commitment to the WPSagenda.”
“Alongside ASEAN, the UN, and other partners here, the USlooks forward to continuing our collaboration to promote and strengthen women’smeaningful participation in peacekeeping efforts, security cooperation, and allpeace and security decision-making processes across the region.”
Mohammad Naciri, Regional Director of UN Women RegionalOffice for Asia and the Pacific said: “Advancing WPS agenda in ASEAN is evenmore relevant in the COVID-19 response and recovery in the region.”
“The pandemic is a conflict multiplier and presents athreat to international peace and security. Women play a critical role inconflict prevention, resolution and recovery. WPS highlights the importance ofgender-responsive policy to address the impact of COVID-19 and to ensuremeaningful empowerment of women in the region. UN Women is committed to supportASEAN in this effort.”/.
VNA
