ASEAN and Women: An Update

ASEAN Mechanism for Women

ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) ASEAN Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) Civil Society Process

What is ACWC?

Inter-governmental body, consultation and consensus in making decision Policy making as well as implementing body Independent body from AICHR but coordinated in nature Recognize victims, women and children and civil society as part of its stakeholders Advocating on behalf of women and children is part of its mandates Chair will be elected, subsequent chair will rotate according the chairpersonship of the ASEAN

ACWC

Stands for ASEAN Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children Launched in 7 April (without the presence of the Philippines and Myanmar) during the 16th ASEAN Summit 2010 Its TOR was finalized on 23 October 2009, Adopted during the 15th ASEAN Summit 2009 Selection process only happened in Thailand and Indonesia

ACWC

Interim Meeting on 7 April 2010, PM Result: First meeting on 5-6 August 2010 Jakarta 4 August is planned to be NGO Forum Agenda: Work Plan, Priority Issues, Alignment issue, ROP Possible revision of the TOR ACWC Possible joint meeting with AICHR

Members of ACWC
Brunei Darussalam 1. Ms. Ms. Intan MD. KASSIM, Women Graduates Association 2. Ms. Datin Adina Othman, former staff of Brunei Department of Community Services and Development Cambodia 1. Ms Long Sophally, Deputy Department of International Affairs Ministry of Women Affairs 2. Ms Khiev Bory, Secretary General of the National Council for Children Laos 1. Ms. Siamphone Sirattanakoul (Head of Division, Lao Womens Union) 2. Mr. Leepao Yang (Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare) Malaysia 1. Dato' Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur Deputy Sec-Gen (Policy) of the Women's Ministry 2. Prof Datuk Dr Chiam Heng Keng, Commissioner at SUHAKAM

Indonesia 1. Ms. Rita Serena Kolibonso, Mitra Perempuan (NGO) 2. Mr. Ahmad Taufan Damanik, KKSP (NGO)

Members of ACWC
Myanmar 1. Dr. Kin Mar Thun, Secretary General Myanmar Womens Affairs Federation 2. U Myint Thein, Director, Department of Social Welfare Joint Secretary, National Committee on the Rights of the Child Thailand 1. Ms. Kanda Vajaraphai, former chairperson of ACWC WG and Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security 2. Ms. Saisuree Chutikul, CEDAW Committee Members and the advisor of the ACWC WG

Philippines

Singapore 1. Dr. Aline Wong, former Senior Minister of State 2. Mr. Koh Choon Hui, chairman of Singapore Children's Society and managing director of pharmaceutical giant Roche Singapore

Vietnam 1. Ms. Cao Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director, Department of International Cooperation, MOLISA 2. Mr. Dang Hoa Nam, Deputy Director, Department of Child Care and Protection, MOLISA

Important articles

Art. 5-2 - To develop policies, programs and innovative strategies to promote and protect the rights of women and children Art 5.5 - To build capacities of relevant stakeholders at all levels, e.g. administrative, legislative, judicial, civil society, community leaders, women and children machineries, through the provision of technical assistance, training and workshops, Art 5.9 - To promote studies and research related to the situation and well-being of women and children with the view to fostering effective implementation of the rights of women and children in the region. Art 5.14. To support the participation of ASEAN women and children in dialogue and consultation processes in ASEAN

Civil Society Engagement

Art. 2.3 Purpose: To promote the well being, development, empowerment and participation of women and children in the ASEAN Community building process Art. 3.9: Principles: To adopt a collaborative and consultative approach with ASEAN Member States, academia and civil society Art. 5.5: Mandate and Function: To build capacities of relevant stakeholders at all levels, e.g administrative, legislative. Judicial, civil society, community leaders, women and children machineries, Art. 5.14: Mandate and Function: To support the participation of ASEAN women and children in dialogue and consultation processes in ASEAN related to the promotion and protection of their rights Art. 7.8: Coordination and Alignment: The ACWC shall engage in dialogue and consultation, as may be appropriate, with other national, regional and international institutions and entities

Issues

Line of Reporting

ACWC reports to ASEAN Ministerial Meeting for Social Welfare Development (AMMSWD) with copy furnish to Senior Official Meeting for Social Welfare and Development (SOMSWD). AMMSWD meets every 3 years. Means: every important decision of ACWC should wait for 3 years to get it go??

Budget not clear yet how much each member state should contribute Secretariat?

Civil Society Process

In other ppt

Opportunities

Shall we maximize the role of Indonesia as ASEAN Chair in 2011? If yes, perhaps:

Establishing some best practices, mechanism, procedures that support the consultation of women and the inclusion of issue Establishing the stakeholdership with ACW, ACWC, AICHR, ASEC and ASG Establishing a public face of the issue whenever ASEAN and human rights is discussed Participate in the process of drafting the ASEAN Declaration on Human Rights

Proposed Advocacy tactics

Defining issues: ASEAN processes, CS priorities Policy research of Burma on womens contexts Regional network consolidation Constituency building: regional, inter-thematic Policy and other Submissions
International connection Gathering supports from different group

ASEAN: a platform to address priority issues/push for human rights agenda for women
1.

Human rights promotion and protection within the ASEAN vis--vis goal of an ASEAN Community by 2015
One Vision, One Identity and One Caring and Sharing Community (3rd para, Preamble, ASEAN Charter)

Burmas CSO

- Continue working with ACWC members apart from Myanmar representatives Submit cases/policy papers to ACWC Awareness raising among Burmas CSOs Follow up on Myanmars activities on women and children (protection and promotion)

Thank you