The Senior Officials Committee for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA) Retreat takes place on February 28. (Photo: asean.org) Chairing the meeting, SOCA Chair ProfessorWarsito, who is Deputy Minister for Education Quality Improvement and ReligiousModeration at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs ofIndonesia, welcomed Timor-Leste Director General of the Ministry of Solidarityand Social Inclusion Florençio Pina Dias Gonzaga as an Observer to the meetingand reiterated ASEAN’s continued support for Timor-Leste’s preparations to joinASEAN.
At the meeting, participants discussedASEAN’s priorities including the ASCC priorityareas and deliverables under Indonesia’s Chairmanship theme ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASCCEkkaphab Phanthavong commended the range of deliverables for the ASCC this year,saying that he is confident that the ASCC under Indonesia’s able leadershipwill allow ASEAN to continue to be an epicentrum of growth.
Warsito stressed ASEAN’s needto remain relevant by maintaining its centrality and becoming an anchor ofstability and prosperity.
Towards that end, he underlined the importance of theASCC pillar in strengthening health architecture, accelerating ruraldevelopment, mitigating impacts of climate change, protecting and enhancingcapacity of labour, and strengthening disability-inclusive development.
On strengthening the regional healtharchitecture, the meeting was briefed on the promotion of the healthapproach to better respond to the health risks in the region. The approachrecognises the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and theirshared environment.
Another ASCC priority this year is empoweringvillages to enable them to fast-track rural development in the region. The ASCCwill accelerate rural development by harnessing collaborative platforms forknowledge-sharing and cooperation opportunities.
Regarding the promotion of environmentalcooperation to conserve biodiversity and mitigate the impacts of climate change,it will particularly enhance the regional capacity to conserve biodiversity andimplement the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
On better protecting land-based andsea-based ASEAN migrant workers and enhancing the capacity of workers for thefuture of work, the ASCC will strengthen the protection of the rights of migrantworkers in crisis situations and fishing vessels, and promote reskilling andupskilling of workers to meet future workforce demands.
Regarding disability-inclusive developmentthrough enhancement of partnership, this year, the ASCC will ensure the rights ofpersons with disability through the implementation of ASEAN Enabling Masterplan2025 and beyond./.
On strengthening the regional healtharchitecture, the meeting was briefed on the promotion of the healthapproach to better respond to the health risks in the region. The approachrecognises the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and theirshared environment.
Another ASCC priority this year is empoweringvillages to enable them to fast-track rural development in the region. The ASCCwill accelerate rural development by harnessing collaborative platforms forknowledge-sharing and cooperation opportunities.
Regarding the promotion of environmentalcooperation to conserve biodiversity and mitigate the impacts of climate change,it will particularly enhance the regional capacity to conserve biodiversity andimplement the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
On better protecting land-based andsea-based ASEAN migrant workers and enhancing the capacity of workers for thefuture of work, the ASCC will strengthen the protection of the rights of migrantworkers in crisis situations and fishing vessels, and promote reskilling andupskilling of workers to meet future workforce demands.
Regarding disability-inclusive developmentthrough enhancement of partnership, this year, the ASCC will ensure the rights ofpersons with disability through the implementation of ASEAN Enabling Masterplan2025 and beyond./.
VNA
