A Vietnamese representative has urged ASEAN countries to further strengthen the role of women in protecting the environment and promoting the sharing of experience in dealing with climate change.

Speaking at the first ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Women (AMMW1) held in Vientiane, Laos on October 19, Vietnam’s Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen stressed the need to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN countries and dialogue partners and UN organisations to further the role of women in building a sustainable environment, thus contributing to the sustainable development of each country, the region and the entire world.

The meeting, themed “Strengthening gender perspectives and partnership among ASEAN women for sustainable environment”, focused on assessing the implementation of the ASEAN Committee on Women’s 2011-2015 projects and plans to promote gender equality, women’s rights and social equality for regional women.

It also affirmed a commitment to push for the inclusion of gender issues in the building of the ASEAN Socio-Culture Community in the 2009-2015 period.

The meeting issued a Vientiane Statement pledging to improve women’s knowledge and skills in environmental conservation and adaptation to climate change and natural disasters as well as to enhance their role in building, implementing, supervising and assessing national, regional and international programmes on environment.-VNA