PUTRAJAYA, 22 May 2023– The 17th ASEAN GO-NGO Forum on Social Welfare and Development took place today, in conjunction with the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development and related meetings via video conference. The forum was chaired by the Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (SOMSWD) Chair, Datuk Dr. Maziah binti Che Yusoff and co-chaired by Datin Paduka Khatijah binti Suleiman, President of National Council on Welfare and Social Development of Malaysia (MAKPEM).
The forum brought together government and non-government organisations to exchange knowledge and experiences on accelerating ASEAN’s collective actions, particularly in advancing gender equality and social inclusion in social welfare and development. This year’s theme is “Accelerating the Implementation of ASEAN’s Commitments for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion.”
“ASEAN has made remarkable progress on gender equality, gender mainstreaming, and social inclusion with regional measures that are generally moving in the right direction – ensuring a COVID-19 recovery process servicing the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in the region,” said Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, in his remarks.
“Central to ASEAN’s efforts is ensuring an ASEAN-led mechanism for cross-sectoral collaboration and inter-pillar cooperation on gender mainstreaming across ASEAN Community Pillars, including the social welfare sector, with active engagement of the civil society,” he added.
The forum examined social welfare and development priorities and strategies that will advance gender equality and social inclusion with strengthened cross-sectoral cooperation among non-government organisations at the regional and national level.
“Synergistic collaboration between NGOs, private sectors, and government is essential in advancing gender equality, as it allows for a concerted effort to tackle the multifaceted barriers that women and children face in society, and facilitates the implementation of comprehensive policies and programs that can drive meaningful change in our region,” said Datin Paduka Khatijah binti Suleiman, President of National Council on Welfare and Social Development of Malaysia (MAKPEM) and Co-Chair of the Forum.
Key recommendations, particularly along gender action planning, labour force participation, gender- responsive budgeting, gender and disability inclusion, healthy, active and productive ageing, and rights of children, were solidified at the forum.
Together with social welfare development agencies, ASEAN is addressing challenges towards accelerating the implementation of the ASEAN Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Framework along with the SOMSWD Work Plan and Its Results Framework 2021-2025 and the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework.
The participants comprised SOMSWD Focal Points, Representatives from relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, Plus Three countries, International Organisations and United Nations agencies, including organisations awarded with ASEAN Outstanding Social Welfare and Development Awards, Social Work Associations, ASEAN Secretariat and relevant delegates from Malaysia.
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