Gender, Society and ASEAN

Dr. Roy Anthony Rogers

Contents

• Introduction• Background of ASEAN • ASEAN Community• Gender within ASEAN Framework• Conclusion

Introduction

The aim of this presentation is to highlight gender has been made an important agenda within ASEAN.

The evolution of ASEAN’s concern on gender. The role of gender in the ASEAN Community.

Introduction

Gender is an issue which involves everyone (male and female). It is NOT only pertaining women.

So what does gender means?

Introduction (cont.)

Gender is a socially constructed roles and responsibilities that society consider appropriate for men and women.

The word gender has been used since the 14th century as a grammatical term, referring to classes of noun designated as masculine, feminine, or neuter in some languages. The sense ‘the state of being male or female’ has also been used since the 14th century, but this did not become common until the mid 20th century. Although the words gender and sex both have the sense ‘the state of being male or female’, they are typically used in slightly different ways: sex tends to refer to biological differences, while gender refers to cultural or social ones.

Gender Symbols (The red is the female Venus symbol. The blue represents the male Mars symbol).

Introduction (cont.): Terminology

Gender Equality: Equal power and opportunities for men and women (health, education, business, politics, career, etc.)

Gender Gap: Discrepancy between men and women in the areas of health, education, etc.

Women’s empowerment: The fostering of a woman’s sense of self-worth, her decision-making power, her access to opportunities and resources, her ability to determine her own life and make changes.

Background of ASEAN

i) ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asia Nations.

ii) Established: 8 August 1967iii) Founding Members: Malaysia,

Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines and Thailand.

iv) Secretariat: Jakarta, Indonesia.

Background: Evolution and Formation of ASEAN ASA

1961Mal-Indo

Konfrantasi (1962-65); ASA (failed)

End of Mal-Indo Konfrantasi (Diplomatic

relations restored)

Formation of ASEAN (Bangkok Declaration 1967)

Background: Objectives of ASEAN

Aims: i) Promote good will and co-

operation among its members.

ii) To be more self reliance and reduce over dependency on foreign powers (security matters).

iii) Enhance economic development in SEA.

Background of ASEAN: The Cold War and Formative Years (1967-1992)

Regional Security & Peace (Initial aims of ASEAN)

Bali Conference: Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in SEA 1976

Background of ASEAN: End of Cold War and New Members The end of Cold War in 1991. New members were admitted

into ASEAN. Vietnam (1995). Laos & Myanmar (1997). Cambodia (1999). ASEAN 10. ASEAN embarked on economic

and social issues.

ASEAN Community

In the 2003 ASEAN Summit, the second declaration of the ASEAN Concord II emerged the three pillars on the Vision 2020:

(1) ASEAN Security Community (ASC) ;(2) ASEAN Economic Community (AEC); and (3) ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).

These will be the strategic opportunity of the member states of the ASEAN region to cooperate and coordinate in working together to accelerate economic growth, promote regional security and socio-cultural development.

ASEAN Vision 2020

ASEAN Security Community (ASC)

Enhance Regional Peace & Security

(Traditional & Non-Traditional

Security Issues)

ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)

Regional Economic

Integration

(Economic Cooperation:

Facilitate Trade & Investments, Reduction of

Tariffs)

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

(ASCC)

Caring & Sharing Society

(Manage the social impact of economic

integration & enhancing

environmental sustainability)

 

• At the 12th ASEAN Summit in January 2007, the Leaders affirmed their strong commitment to accelerate the establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015 as envisioned in the ASEAN Vision 2020 and the ASEAN Concord II, and signed the Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015.

• In particular, the Leaders agreed to hasten the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015 and to transform ASEAN into a region with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labour, and freer flow of capital.

ASEAN Community

ASEAN Community

POLITICAL SECURITY

SOCIAL CULTUREECONOMY

ASEAN Political Security Community (APSC)“Enhancing peace, stability, democracy and prosperity in the region through comprehensive political and security cooperation” (142 Action Plan)

ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)

“Enhancing competitive-ness for economic growth and development through closer economic integration”(154 Action Plan)

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)

“Nurturing human, cultural and natural resources for sustained development in a harmonious and people-centered ASEAN”. (339 Action Plan)

Interrelation of the Three Pillars to the Establishment of the ASEAN Community

ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)a) A single market and

production base

b) A highly competitive economic region

c) A region of equitable economic development,

d) A region fully integrated into the global economy

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)

a) Human and Social Development

b) Respect for Fundamental Freedoms

c) Gender Equality

d) Human Rights

e) Social Justice

ASEAN Political-Security Community

a) A Rules-based Community of shared values and norms;

b) A Cohesive, Peaceful, Stable and Resilient Region with shared responsibility for comprehensive security; and

c) A Dynamic and Outward-looking Region in an increasingly integrated and interdependent world

ASEAN Community (Gender has been incorporated into ASEAN Framework)

Gender within the ASEAN FrameworkASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Human and Social Development; Respect of Fundamental Freedoms; Gender

Equality; Human Rights and Social Justice

A. Human Development Advancing and Prioritizing Human and Social Development in the ASEAN IntegrationInvesting on Human Development

a) Center of Excellence in Human Development b) English as an International Business Language c) Information Technology d) Gender and Development (Strengthening entrepreneurship skills for women, youth, elderly and persons with disabilities) e) Global Competitiveness f) Skills Development for Youth and Persons with Disabilities

B. Social Welfare and Protection

1. Poverty Alleviation

2. Social Safety Net

3. Food Security and Safety

4. Health Care and Promotion of Healthy Lifestyle

5. Control of Communicable Diseases

6. Drug Free

7. Disaster Resilient and Safer Communities

C. Social Justice

8. Rights and Welfare of Women, Children, the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities

9. Rights of the Migrant Workers

10. Corporate Social Responsibility

D. Ensuring Environmental Sustainability

11. Global Environmental Issues

12. Transboundary Environmental Pollution

13. Environmental Sound Technology

14. Environmentally Sustainable Cities

15. Environmental Policies and Data Bases

16. Coastal and Marine Environment

17. Management of Natural Resources and biodiversity

18. Fesh water

19. Climate Change

20. Forest Management

Gender is not a new agenda within ASEAN To improve the status of women, and as an ASEAN’s machinery to

participate actively in the regional and international arena pertaining to women’s advancement.

The idea was coined in ASEAN Women Leaders’ Conference in 1975. Established The ASEAN Sub-Committee on Women (ASW) in 1976 and

was renamed the ASEAN Women’s Programme (AWP) in 1981. To give a fresh impetus to the on-going ASEAN cooperation on women’s

issues, this sectoral body was restructured into the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) in 2002 to coordinate and monitor the implementation of ASEAN’s key regional priorities and cooperation in women’s issues and concerns are carried out by the ACW which meets regularly every year.

ASEAN Ministerial meeting on Women, established on Oct 6, 2011

ASEAN’s Cooperation on Women ASEAN’s Commitment on Women’s Rights:

Declaration on the Advancement of Women in ASEAN which was adopted by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in 1988.

Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women in the ASEAN Region, adopted by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in 2004, is the second declaration recognising important concerns for women.

Guided by two operational documents: The Work Plan for Women’s Advancement and Gender Equality

(2005-2010), which has its roots in the 1988 Declaration on the Advancement of Women in ASEAN.

The Work Plan to Operationalise the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (2006-2010), which builds on existing national efforts, moves forward the priorities of the other Work Plan and integrates all relevant priorities and measures into a consolidated action plan on violence against women.

Activities Working in partnership with ASEAN Confederation on Women’s

Organisations (ACWO) Activities to include: different regional workshops, seminars,

training sessions and consultative meetings that provided platforms for government officials, civil society organisations, professionals and other stakeholders to exchange views, share experiences and build commitments and a common understanding on various gender issues.

2006: Joint Statement and Commitment to Implement Gender Mainstreaming was adopted.

Various publications and periodic regional reports were also produced. These include: The Thesaurus on Women in Development (1996); The First Regional Report on the Advancement of Women (1997); The Second Regional Report on the Advancement of Women (2002); The Third Regional Report on the Advancement of Women (2007).

Statements by ASEAN High Officials regarding Gender “The spirit of promoting

gender equality should be an integrated part of ASEAN’s policies and programmes towards the ASEAN Community. The goal of gender equality should be central to all three pillars of economy, political-security and socio-cultural of ASEAN.”- H.E. Le Luong Minh ASEAN Secretary-General.

Statements by ASEAN High Officials regarding Gender “The role of ASEAN Secretariat is

critical in making gender mainstreaming as standard practice in ASEAN policies and programmes across the three pillars. Before we are able to effectively stimulate gender mainstreaming strategy in ASEAN, we first need to understand clearly the concept of gender equality and how gender mainstreaming strategy can be applied in our work.” – H.E. Alicia R. Bala, Deputy Secretary General for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).

Gender is an important agenda of ASEAN Community. “Gender equality is a key element of social

justice. While gender mainstreaming is essential for securing human rights and social justice for women and men, it also increasingly recognizes that incorporating gender perspective in different areas of development will ensure the effective of other social and economic goals.” – Ms. Julia Muealler, Director of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Office for Regional Cooperation in Asia.

Conclusion

Gender has been incorporated as part of ASEAN’s agenda in achieving ASEAN Community.

There were already concerns on gender issues within ASEAN as early mid-1970s and 1980s.

ASEAN was established in 1967 as a regional organization to promote peace and political stability within the Southeast Asia region. The Cold War politics overshadowed the initial years of ASEAN. However, since 1991 ASEAN has moved forward in economic and social integration.

Gender is an important component with the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).

It is also linked with the other two pillars (Economic and Political Security).

Thank You

Terima Kasih