At the launch of the “Empowering women for sustainable peace: preventing violence and promoting social cohesion in ASEAN” (Photo: asean.org)Jakarta (VNA) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN), Canada and UN Women recently launched a five-year programme to expandand strengthen women’s leadership and participation in conflict prevention, resolutionand recovery in Southeast Asia.
The 8.5 million CAD (6.36million USD) programme, “Empowering women for sustainable peace: preventingviolence and promoting social cohesion in ASEAN”, is funded by Global AffairsCanada to support ASEAN and the implementation of the ASEAN-Canada Plan ofAction 2021-2025, with the support of UN Women as a lead UN partner.
“Canada is proud to launchthis flagship initiative that uses the women, peace and security approach topromote inclusive and sustainable peace and security in the region, whileaddressing the systemic gender inequality,” said Diedrah Kelly, Canada’sAmbassador to ASEAN.
ASEAN has made importantstrides to advance women, peace and security agenda, including the adoption ofthe first ‘Joint Statement on Promoting Women, Peace and Security in ASEAN’ in2017, the launch of the ASEAN Women’s Peace Registry in 2018, and convening thefirst ASEAN Symposium on Women, Peace and Security in 2019 and the ASEANMinisterial Dialogue on Strengthening Women’s role for Sustainable Peace andSecurity in 2020.
Secretary-General of ASEANDato Lim Jock Hoi said, “ASEAN is working concertedly to advance women, peaceand security agenda across the three ASEAN Community Pillars as part of ourcommitment to promote gender equality and the roles of women in theimplementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework.”
The COVID-19 impact hasincreased the risks for women and girls in fragile and conflict-affectedcontexts and this challenges us to re-examine threats to human security. “Thepandemic highlights the important linkage between peace, humanitarian anddevelopment and the critical need for women’s leadership and participation toensure effective and comprehensive response, from policy decision-making topeace building and pandemic response,” said Jamshed Kazi, UN WomenRepresentative and Liaison to ASEAN.
The new programme reflectsthe commitment of ASEAN and Canada to promote gender equality and to respond toan increasingly widespread call across the globe for women to be empowered tolead and participate in peace and development.
ASEAN includes Brunei,Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar,Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam./.
VNA
