ASEAN's Commitment to Women, Peace and Security

Issue Highlights

ASEAN’s Commitment to Women, Peace and Security

22 April 2024

Demography, Gender Equality and Women Empowerment

While the 2017 ASEAN Declaration on Gender-Responsive Implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the Sustainable Development Goals focused on gender equality across the region, another key declaration adopted at the 31^st ASEAN Summit in Manila, the Philippines addressed the crucial role of women in peace and security. The Joint Statement on the Promotion of Women, Peace and Security in ASEAN highlights ASEAN's commitment to implementing the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) and its subsequent resolutions on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

The statement acknowledges the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and girls. It emphasises the importance of women's participation in all stages of peace processes, from prevention and conflict resolution to peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction. This aligns with the core principles of UNSCR 1325, which calls for increased participation of women in decision-making related to peace and security.

A Web of Regional Support

ASEAN has woven a web of regional support for the WPS agenda. The first Regional Symposium on Implementing WPS in ASEAN in 2019 fostered dialogue and knowledge-sharing among member states, laying the groundwork for collective action.

To inform a comprehensive approach, the ASEAN Regional Study on WPS in 2021 provided valuable insights.

Major Findings of the ASEAN Regional Study on Women, Peace and Security

Finding 1

Localisation of the WPS agenda for the ASEAN context is occurring in AMS but there is scope for this to be scaled up.

Finding 2

Women’s peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding networks are nascent developments in the ASEAN region although gaps exist in security sector leadership and representation in governance.

Finding 3

A WPS lens is increasingly being applied to preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) and to nontraditional security issues, but there are gaps in protection addressing sexual and gender-based violence in the context of conflict and crisis and in approaches to crisis prevention.

Finding 4

The ASEAN Political-Security, Economic, and Socio-Cultural Community Pillars have all engaged in preliminary ways with WPS, establishing a foundation for further regional institutionalisation and integration.

https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ASEAN-WPS-Study-01082021.pdf

The study, along with inputs from Member States, formed the foundation for the landmark Regional Plan of Action (PoA) on WPS in 2022. This five-year roadmap (2023-2027) serves as a blueprint for regional cooperation on achieving the goals of UNSCR 1325.

ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security

Protection

Outcome: Protection of the rights of women, young women and girls, including those of marginalised groups, in policies, practices and institutions related to peace and security, including the protection of women and girls from all forms of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in conflict, post-conflict, peacebuilding and humanitarian settings.

Participation

Outcome: Women’s full, meaningful and equal participation in institutions, organisations and decision-making processes related to peace and security, including in leadership positions.

Prevention

Outcomes: ASEAN sectoral bodies, institutions and member states play an active role in contributing to global, regional and national conflict prevention, and prevention of violence, disasters and other threats to peace and security, with the principles of the WPS agenda central to these activities. Peace and security institutions, mechanisms and processes are successfully preventing SGBV.

Relief and Recovery

Outcome: The needs of women and girls are met in relief and recovery processes at regional, national and local levels and women have equal and meaningful participation in these processes, including in positions of decision-making and leadership.

ASEAN’s commitment extends beyond its borders. The 2019 ASEAN side events on WPS at the Beijing+25 Review showcased their dedication to the cause on a global stage. The ASEAN-Australia Women, Peace and Security Dialogue (2018-2020) fostered collaboration with a key regional partner. The Advisory Group on WPS and ASEAN Regional Plan of Action (2022) oversees the implementation of the plan, ensuring its effectiveness.

Building the capacity of women peacebuilders is another crucial aspect. The Regional Programme on Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace in 2021 equips women with the skills and knowledge needed to be active participants in peace processes. The recent 2023 ASEAN WPS Summit: High Level Dialogue to Advance the Implementation of the Regional Action Plan on Women Peace and Security further underscores ASEAN’s ongoing commitment to progress.

Finally, a dedicated website on ASEAN’s work on WPS serves as a valuable resource for information and updates: https://wps.asean.org/.

Through these regional efforts, ASEAN demonstrates its unwavering commitment to building a more peaceful and secure future, where women play a pivotal role in shaping a more just and equitable world.