Indonesia helps shape new South-East Asian plan to end violence against women

Jakarta, Indonesia — To identify emerging challenges and strategic priorities for the second Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence against Women, for 2026–2035, Indonesia hosted a national consultation from 2–3 July 2025 in Jakarta. About 150 Indonesian Government officials, parliamentarians, members of women’s organizations, civil society and academics attended the consultation.

The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection convened the consultation in collaboration with the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children. UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) supported the event through the UN Joint Programme on Gender-Based Violence Prevention in Southeast Asia, funded by Australia, and the PROTECT project, funded by the European Union.

Speaking at the event, Desi Andriani, Deputy for the Protection of Women's Rights, Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, said the consultation would promote a stronger ASEAN policy on women’s rights as well as the “empowered women, protected children” goal of the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.

Participants in the consultation discussed the progress made since the mid-term review of the first ASEAN plan on eliminating violence against women (2016–2025) by looking at shifts in social norms, institutional responses and financing.

While important progress has been made, notably the 2022 Sexual Violence Law, one in four Indonesian women has experienced physical and/or sexual violence and stigma. Underreporting and unequal access to services also persist.

“Violence against women is a pressing issue within ASEAN,” said Sri Danti Anwar, Indonesia Representative to the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children. “Cooperation and synergy are key to eliminating violence against women and girls. No single institution can achieve this alone – it requires a holistic, integrated approach that listens to survivors, is backed by data, provides recovery and protection services, and ensures accountability through law enforcement.” 

According to the report of the Indonesia consultation, legal reforms have strengthened protections and shaped new social norms, although stigma against women survivors and the normalization of violence continue to hinder progress. Service units and referral systems have been established, but it notes that challenges remain in staffing and ensuring inclusive, sustained service-delivery. The report also says national prevalence data are now available, but gaps in quality and disaggregation persist. On financing, budget commitments exist, but gender-responsive planning remains limited.

A consultation session on the interconnections between violence against women and violence against children discussed the common root causes of violence, including gender inequality and intergenerational trauma. Participants contributed insights for the first-ever common chapter to be included in both the ASEAN regional plan on eliminating violence against women and that on eliminating violence against children – a move to promote an integrated approach.

“ASEAN Vision 2045 can only be fulfilled when women are fully on board as leaders, innovators, change-makers and agents, as employers and employees, and in all of their capacities. Most importantly, as women who are able to fulfil their own rights,” said Ulziisuren Jamsran, UN Women Country Representative to Indonesia and Liaison to ASEAN, who praised ASEAN for developing laws, policies and institutional frameworks on ending violence against women.

After Indonesia, the other ASEAN Member States will hold their own national consultations on the new ASEAN regional plan, which is expected to be endorsed at the 2026 ASEAN Summit.