ASEAN Urged to Formulate Policies to Address Plight of Women and Children in Conflict Situations

ASEAN Member States should continue undertaking activities to formulate policy recommendations, including the development and implementation of national action plans on women, peace and security in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, to address the needs of women and children in conflict and post-conflict situations.

This is one of the key recommendations that emerged after the conclusion of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR) Symposium on the Plight of Women and Children in Conflict Situations held in Tagaytay City, the Philippines from December 08 to 09, which was organized by the Philippine Permanent Mission to ASEAN headed by Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso.

In her message to the symposium, Philippine Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon J. Soliman emphasized the need to work together to formulate a responsive framework for peace to be eventually supported by policies and programs to which every ASEAN Member State will adhere.

“Women and children are the most vulnerable and most affected when fighting erupts. But they must not be viewed as the weak sectors, because they are not. Children and women are the potential strongest tools of nations in peace-building, peace-making and peace-keeping. We have the chance to consolidate all the best practices and possible opportunities we can utilize to achieve that elusive piece in development which is peace,” Secretary Soliman stressed.

Ambassador Buensuceso, who is the Philippine Permanent Representative to ASEAN, echoed Secretary Soliman’s call, suggesting that the main recommendations of the conference be forwarded to the various ASEAN mechanisms and fora for possible inclusion in their work programs and plans of action.

Participants also urged ASEAN to support the development of preventive measures to conflict, such as the advancement of a culture of peace and the promotion of moderation in the region. They said that this can be implemented through activities and initiatives in education, culture, human rights, and political-security, among others, under the various ASEAN-led mechanisms.

The two-day symposium discussed the following: surfacing the plight of women and children in conflict situations; the abuses women and children are exposed to, such as sexual violence, threats to their lives, identity and property, and others; women and children as active participants in conflict resolution and the peace process; and programs and mechanisms to ensure protection and promotion of the rights and welfare of women and children are protected during armed conflict and/or in post-conflict situations.

Speakers included Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Evan P. Garcia, AIPR Governing Council Chair and Malaysia’s Ambassador to ASEAN Hasnudin Hamzah, Ambassador Buensuceso, Ambassador of Norway to ASEAN Stig Ingemar Traavik, Switzerland Ambassador to ASEAN Yvonne Baumann, Dr. Kuntoro Mangkusubroto of Indonesia, and UN Women (Myanmar) Head Dr. Jean D’ Cunha. Other speakers from Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and the Philippines presented actual experiences and case studies. ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for Socio-Culutural Community Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee also attended the symposium.

Representatives from all ASEAN Member States, including members of the AIPR Governing Council, the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), participated in the symposium.

The AIPR was established to serve as the ASEAN institution for activities and research projects on peace, conflict management and conflict resolution. The AIPR Governing Council oversees the overall functions and policy direction of the AIPR. It consists of senior representatives from all 10 ASEAN Member States, the Secretary General of ASEAN, and an Executive Director to be appointed by the members.

Source: www.dfa.gov.ph