This report is based on an assessment of COVID-19 fiscal stimulus response and policy measures in nine countries in Asia and the Pacific (Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam).

This report on Social protection for Women and Girls in Viet Nam in the period 2012-2020 aims to assess the status and results of the implementation of social protection policies for women and girls within the framework of Resolution No. 15 in the period 2012-2020 and to propose policy recommendations to advance the gender mainstreaming in the development of the new Resolution on social protection policies toward 2030.

This Think Piece: Innovations in Childcare to Advance Women’s Economic Empowerment explores the question “Can inclusive Care Entrepreneurship be a pathway to address gaps in the childcare sector in Asia and the Pacific?”. It offers promising entrepreneurship models emerging in Asia and the Pacific that could be replicated and scaled to fill childcare gaps to contribute to efforts to rebuild economies and to recognize the care economy as a vehicle to create more jobs and increase women’s economic participation.

The ASEAN Policy Brief includes a summary of major issues around Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in ASEAN, presents how the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) can provide a useful framework for both the public and private sector to address these issues, and discusses the specific role ASEAN can take in leading real progress on women’s empowerment and gender equality.

This document will focus on examining the impact of COVID-19 on ethnic minority groups in Viet Nam, especially ethnic minority women. It will also analyze the implementation efficiency of direct cash transfer and social protection policies for ethnic minority groups from a gender equality lens. The document will propose policy recommendations towards the development and implementation of supporting policies and programmes in emergency situations to ensure gender responsiveness.

At the same time the world is witnessing changing future of work and women’s share in the gig economy is increasing. Reports indicate positive aspects of this growth, such as the financial independence women gain from entering this economy as well as enhancement in the sense of self-identity for those who participate in the economy through platforms that help them advertise and sell their goods and services. However, this area is also fraught with challenges for women. While the ease of doing business that comes from using digital platforms clearly facilitates women’s participation, it also renders them susceptible to sudden changes in employment opportunities or fluctuations in the economy.

This is an easy-to-understand toolkit that has been developed with the aim to enhance awareness and knowledge about harassment and sexual harassment. More specifically, it is a toolkit to get to know antiharassment concepts, normative frameworks/ instruments as well as procedures for creating a safe working environment for all, in accordance with the laws in Pakistan.

They were developed on the basis of the IASC Policy Statement on Gender Equality in Humanitarian Action (November 2017)1, and in light of lessons learned from the Ebola and Zika outbreaks and emerging gender impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to mobilize inter-agency support within the Nepal Humanitarian Country Team in ensuring these principles are reflected in the emergency response activities in support of the Government of Nepal.

This document aims to inform Sri Lanka’s national policy on the protection of rights of women migrant domestic workers. Guided by normative commitments and international standards on gender equality and migrant labour rights, the document captures the concerns of a diverse set of stakeholders, including government officials, civil society representatives, and the most marginalized women migrant domestic workers.

The Toolkit provides comprehensive guidance on ensuring the protection and promotion of the rights of women migrant workers throughout the labour migration cycle. The Toolkit includes a policy brief series that describes the process of establishing national, bilateral and regional policy protections. The Gender-responsive Guidance on Employment Contracts supports relevant stakeholders to ensure these policies and protections are reflected in employment contracts. The Gender-responsive Self-assessment Tool for Recruitment Agencies provides recruiters with information on how to protect and promote the rights of women migrant workers in practice, throughout the migration cycle....

Safe and Fair: Realizing women migrant workers’ rights and opportunities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region is part of the Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls, a global, multi-year initiative between the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN). Safe and Fair is implemented through a partnership between the ILO and UN Women (in collaboration with UNODC) with the overriding objective of ensuring that labour migration is safe...

Preventing and responding to linked epidemics in Asia and the Pacific Region Gender-based violence affects men, women and transgender people – it is a grave abuse of human rights, a risk factor for HIV infection, and a consequence of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. Violence against women and girls in particular constitutes a global health challenge of epidemic proportions, and is one of the most pervasive and extreme manifestations of gender inequality....

This Policy Brief looks at labour inspection in ASEAN in relation to women migrant workers, making recommendations to policy makers, development partners, employers, workers’ organisations, and civil society on the initiatives needed to ensure the implementation of labour standards for women migrant workers. In seeking to promote and protect the rights of women migrant workers in ASEAN, a strong and effective labour inspectorate is required to ensure that working conditions are in...

On 2 August 2015, the outcome document of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015 was agreed by consensus by Member States. The outcome document will be presented to the Summit for adoption in September 2015. From a gender perpective, the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets address many concerns and therefore represent a significant step forward compared to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). As a result of a wide-ranging consultation process with...

The South Asia region has witnessed consistent economic growth over the past decades, resulting in rapid modernization. Increased commitments to women’s empowerment have resulted in progressive policies. Despite best efforts, however, some gaps remain. Empirical studies indicate towards the presence of islands of marginalisation within societies which are otherwise known for their strong social fabric and spirit of kinship. One such group that requires urgent attention is of widows. As...