Regional Meeting on Promoting Women’s Leadership and Political Participation in ASEAN

Obstacles for women’s participation in politics and public decision making are many and diverse – ranging from discriminatory attitudes towards women in public positions to persistent gender inequities in literacy rate and education, in health care, and in economic empowerment and in women’s burden of care and unpaid work. Violence against women in various forms as well as trafficking in women and children also remain widespread. While these obstacles for women’s political participation are rather generic, the depth and influence of each obstacle vary across and between the AMS countries and progress is uneven, adding to complexities in the ASEAN region.

The root causes of obstacles to women’s participation in politics and public decision making are deeply entrenched in social norms, cultural attitudes and perceptions of gender roles of men and women, codes of conduct, traditions, informal and formal discriminatory laws. Social practices will not change unless root causes are addressed. There is therefore a pressing need to strengthen the systematic collection and analysis of adequate and reliable data and information in order to systematically monitor progress in addressing such root causes.

Objectives of the Regional meeting

1. To increase/deepen understanding by key stakeholders of women’s political participation and voice in the ASEAN region and identifying gaps, barriers and good practices in addressing these.
2. To discuss strategies, policies and programs as well as solutions by ASEAN Member States to promote women’s political leadership including identifying support needed by women parliamentarians and arrive at recommendations to AMS
3. To discuss a potential indicators for monitoring progress in ASEAN on women’s political participation in ASEAN

Related links and documents:

• Outcome document of Regional Meeting on Promoting Women’s Leadership and Political Participation in ASEAN
• Opening Remarks by Ms. Roberta Clarke, Regional Director, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
• Opening Remarks by Hon. Mr. Periowsamy Otharam, Secretary-General of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA)
• Concept Note
• Poster: Women in Politics (2014)
• Guidance Note: Women’s Human Rights and National Constitutions – Leadership and Political Participation (2012)

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